Cédric Gugler is hoping to use the support from the home crowds this week as he targets a maiden Challenge Tour victory at the Swiss Challenge.
The 24-year-old finished in a tie for fourth at the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour earlier this month, and he is looking to use home comforts to propel him to another good result at Golf Saint Apollinaire this week.
“My game feels great now and I’ve had a strong season,” he said. “I’m taking it tournament by tournament and it’s important for me to stay in the moment.
“The Omega European Masters was the highlight of my career, and it was an unbelievable feeling to play so well in front of the home crowds in Crans Montana. I hope I can get back to performing on that kind of stage.
“I love playing in front of big crowds on the big stage and it makes me stronger as a golfer. It was so special to play on the DP World Tour and that’s where I feel I belong in the future. My aim is to get there as quick as possible.”
The Swiss, who lives just 25 minutes away from this week’s venue, will be hoping to use course knowledge to his advantage and highlighted the importance of keeping the ball in play off the tee.
“The course is looking great and the rough is nice and juicy,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough test and it’s going to be important to hit fairways and greens if you want to have a chance of climbing the leaderboard.
“We have had a lot of rain which means the course will be soft. It will be a challenge but I’m looking forward to it. I know the course very well because I live 25 minutes from here, but I will need to focus on a game plan this week.
“I’m looking forward to a great week and it’s so nice to be able to stay at home and drive to the course every morning. The Swiss crowds are always great at this event, and they always give me so much support which is an advantage for me.”
Gugler joins a strong field in Folgensbourg this week that includes DP World Tour winners Alexander Levy and Lucas Bjerregaard, as well as Spaniard Joel Moscatel, who is targeting a third victory of the Road to Mallorca season to earn automatic promotion to the DP World Tour.
The first round will get under way at 7:50am local time, with Gugler teeing it up alongside England’s Alfie Plant and Joshua Grenville-Wood of the UAE at 8:01am.
