Damien Perrier is looking forward to going back to Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, where he will tee it up once again in the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge on the European Challenge Tour.
The Frenchman finished in tied tenth place in the north of France last year, narrowly missing out on third after three-putting on the 18th during his final round.
The 27 year old, who is playing in just his second full season on Europe's top developmental tour, is one of the form players on the 2016 Road to Oman, with three top-ten finishes and an emphatic D + D REAL Czech Challenge victory already under his belt.
Now into his ninth year as a professional, the Rennes-born player admits he is in the form of his life, and is excited to showcase his game to the home crowds this week.
“I am very excited to go back, because firstly this tournament is in France,” said Perrier, who earned his card for the current Challenge Tour campaign by finishing in the top five on the satellite Alps Tour Order of Merit.
“I like to play at home, in front of the French public, and my family and friends are coming to support which will be great.
“My girlfriend Marina will be on the bag again, she has been my caddy three times this year and I finished first, tied 12th and third, so we have some good statistics together. Last year she caddied for me at Le Vaudreuil and on the Alps Tour.
“Last year it was frustrating for me as I had one putt on 18 to make third, two putts for fifth, but I three-putted on the last hole. I was not very happy with the finish but was pleased overall – a top ten is always a good performance.
“This year because of my position on the Road to Oman I hope I will do as good as last season, maybe better. And If I am in the same position coming to the last hole I hope I am able to get the job done on the 18th green!
“It is a tricky course – I think you have to use your brain – because it is not a long course. It is quite short but technical. You have to sometimes draw the ball, sometimes fade it, and it depends on the trees.
“It is easier when soft, because it plays like target golf then. If it is not soft, the greens are a little bit trickier – so you have to be very accurate with your second shot from the fairway. The field is also going to be very strong too, so we should be in for a good week.”
Perrier, who is part of the Cordon Golf Team with Clément Sordet and European Tour star Sébastien Gros, is delighted with his performances so far this season – but is hungry for more success.
“I am very happy with the start I have made this year – but it is still work in progress,” he said. “I turned pro eight years ago and narrowly missed out on a spot on the Challenge Tour twice while playing on the Alps Tour. That is mentally tough.
“Last year I played very consistently and made the top five on the Order of Merit without a victory – which is not easy. When you are a professional you live for trophies, so I felt like I was missing something, until I won this year in the Czech Republic.
“I was playing well but did not expect to win in the way I did. It opens a door in your mind and you believe you can go out there and do it again. You are not afraid on a Friday about missing the cut and you can go out and play your game.
“It gives you so much more confidence when you win and it has changed my goals for the rest of the season. I now want to try and go out and get my second victory and I am targeting a place in the top 15 at the end of the season. When you are playing well you have to keep the momentum.
“It also helps that so many of the French guys are doing well. With Romain Langasque, Matthieu Pavon, Adrien Saddier, Sordet and Joël Stalter all playing so good, you feel like you are part of something and it brings you to the top. It is still a competition though and I really want to go on and make the European Tour as this is something I have worked very hard for from a young age.”
