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Former European Tour pro Roger Chapman on ... Moving Day

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Freedom of just making the cut can set some on a birdie run but being on the leaderboard has put the frighteners on many

It's known as moving day. If you have just made the cut, you want to go out and move up the field. If you are near the head of the field, you don't want to move backwards. Inevitably, people do both.

I have played in the Open and just squeaked through the cut. The relief of doing that somehow seems to free your mind up for the Saturday. I had just made the cut at the 1989 Open at Troon having shot 76 in the first round, my family decided to check out of the hotel believing I would not make the cut, but I was out early, had nothing to lose and shot 68!

I started early next day and was 5 under after six holes and eventually finished 13th. Never say never. In that instance, I was relieved to have made the cut and was relaxed and played great over the weekend but it can have the opposite effect. If you are in contention after two rounds, the feeling in your gut is "can I keep this going to go on and win?" Doubts creep in and mind strength must keep doubt out.

I have been in the locker room toilets retching before going to the practice ground. You sometimes think, 'why am I putting myself through this?' then reality checks in: this is what I do, this is my living.

If I was in contention, towards the latter end of my career, I didn't want to play with a 'name' I just wanted to be drawn with someone I knew well and we could just get on with the job in hand. The guys who have just made the cut at the US PGA Championship will be more relaxed and you will find that there will be a lot of good scores. The ones towards the head of the field will be going out 'trying' not to be negative. They won't be playing with the freedom of a Thursday or Friday.

The heat will also be a huge factor, in this, the last Major of the year. Temperatures will probably soar to 100 degrees. If players who are out early can post a good score in the relative cool of the morning, they could be late off on Sunday but then there is all Saturday afternoon, evening and Sunday morning to think about what might be.

It is difficult to sleep at night; some players will take a sleeping tablet, others may have a couple of glasses of wine, just so they get a good night's sleep. That is so important, you don't want to be awake watching TV or reading a book until the early hours because that can affect you massively the next day.

People who watch golf do not realise the pressures that go into a run of the mill tournament, let alone a Major. I only ever competed in the Open (albeit 17 times) but Saturday was the day that could set you up for life or put you back on the first tee of the next event trying to do it all over again.