Edoardo Molinari is hoping to see the results of his recent hard work when he tees it up at the Australian PGA Championship this week.
The Italian had to make the trip to Qualifying School last month after finishing 158th in The Race to Dubai and missed the cut at the season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship last week.
But a second round 68 at Leopard Creek Country Club showed the game that brought two European Tour titles in the 2010 season was still there, and Molinari is hopeful that the work he is putting in on his swing will soon pay off.
"Last year it was extremely poor and Q-School season wasn't great but it got better and better and hopefully I can start building on that and keep improving," he said.
"We've been working very hard making some big changes.
"It took quite some time but some spells at Q-School were the best golf probably I’ve ever played and then still a bit inconsistent. Last week was the same, first round was very bad, second one was very good, so still a bit up and down at the moment, but the good is very good.
"It's definitely improving. You make changes like that, it takes quite some time to get used to your shots and being on the course, different shapes, different winds, it's always a bit tricky into the wind.
"Back home, some of the practice days, some tournaments in the tournament, my putting's been very, very good. So I'm very optimistic.
"I think at the moment I'm more focused on working on the swing and working on my game and then the rest, I guess, will take care of itself."
One thing expected to test Molinari's new swing this week is the conditions with strong winds forecast at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. The back nine has recently been remodelled after changes were made to the front in 2014 and the 34 year old is relishing the challenge he will face.
"It's a good golf course," he said. "I think especially if it's windy, it's a very good place. Yesterday when we played it was blowing and you have to have some confident golf shots to score well.
"What I like the most about this course is that you have to think a lot. It's not very straight forward, it's not driver on every hole. There are many options off the tee and that's the same, if you're aggressive and you mis-hit, you pay a massive price, so you have to be very patient and keep your senses."
