Now I know what the "greenhouse effect" is all about. The temperatures down in Mississippi for the Deposit Guaranty Classic on Sunday resembled a blazing oven, but at least I proved I can take the heat - competitively as well as physically - by earning what I call card-gaining dollars.

For the second week running, I earned decent money: $12,000 from Madison, and $7,500 the previous week in Oakwood, all of which means that I'm now placed 176th in the moneylist. I know I've still a lot to do to retain my card, but the omens look a lot better than a month ago when I couldn't swing a club, and even a nightmare journey out of Jackson didn't upset the feel good factor.

You know what it's like to be stuck in an airport terminal, it can be very frustrating. Well, Fred Funk, who won the tournament, Keith Nolan and myself were among a group of guys who'd planned to fly out of Jackson on Sunday night to Providence, Rhode Island, on the way to this week's tournament near Boston. It didn't quite work out that way. The plane we were due to catch couldn't land, all because a bulb the size of a 50 pence piece didn't work. Instead, after a few hours waiting, we took a flight to Atlanta and booked into a hotel for the night.

I eventually got a flight out of Atlanta in late morning. However, it meant we all had to withdraw from the pro-am in Sutton - about 20 minutes from Boston - and had an unexpected day off. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, though, because I'm feeling just a little tired after four weeks on the road.

Things are going well, however. After firing that final-round 64 in the Quad City the previous week, I immediately changed my plans and decided to play in Mississippi. Unfortunately, I had to take a local caddie - a nice guy, but I did all my own yardages etc. and he was effectively a bag carrier - because Mark Carnavale, who had promised I could have his caddie for the week, also changed his mind and played in the event. It's important to keep your form going when you hit a good patch and, even after opening with a 74, I was determined not to relent. In the second round of the Deposit Guaranty, I birdied three of the last four holes for a 69 to make the cut by a shot. I think it is a sign of maturity, that I'm learning my lessons from earlier in the season, that I was able to react in that way.

Anyway, I followed up with a third round of 67 that featured six birdies and one bogey. The US Tour is so full of quality that you'll get your comeuppance very quickly if you relax, so it's important to go out with the right attitude; it's vital to have no negative thoughts.

That's the way I felt on Sunday. I hit 17 greens in regulation, had no three-putts, missed just two fairways and had 26 putts in my round. I finished with a 68 - my third round in the 60s of the week - and I walked off that 18th green so happy.

I know it is unrealistic, but there were times in that final round that I stood over my iron shots and expected to hole out every time. It was as good as it gets. I was firing the ball straight at the flag and I just hope I can keep it going. Actually, I'm also looking at my schedule and working out when I should take a week off. I have to find somewhere, purely because the amount of travel we have to undertake is so physically draining. For instance, in the past two weeks, I've gone from Chicago to Mississippi and now up to Boston.

However, I have now started to set my sights higher. No longer am I setting out trying to make the cut, I'm looking for a high finish. As I've said, the standard on the Tour is frighteningly high. Just look at what Brian Watts, a player who only earned his card once, did in the British Open. I'll tell you, it's very weird to be teeing off at half-one or two o'clock on a Sunday and you're eight shots behind the leader and you know you can't afford to slip up. I was pleased with the way I handled myself. I was four over par after 13 holes of the first day and to finish with a total of ten-under-par is really very satisfying.

This week's event - the CVS Charity Classic in Sutton - gives me the chance to maintain my run of good form and the good thing about it is that I'm promised plenty of support. There's a strong Birr crew in Boston and they've been on to tell me that they'll be out in support . . . and my dad, Jack, is travelling across for the tournament. It'd be nice if I could show them at first hand just how good my game is at the moment.

(In an interview with Philip Reid).