Haydn Porteous is hopeful that a return to the scene of his first win this week at the Joburg Open can inspire him to find the consistency to become a force on the European Tour.
The South African had a life-changing week last year at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, claiming his first European Tour title in just his 22nd event and with it securing a spot at The Open Championship.
He finished in an impressive tie for 30th at Royal Troon but made just one cut the rest of the season, and began his 2017 campaign with six missed cuts before making the weekend at the Maybank Championship a fortnight ago.
That does not tell the full story for the 22 year old, however, who has been working hard on swing changes and has missed the cut by a single shot at four events so far this season.
Those fine margins would suggest he is not far from reclaiming the form that saw him hold off countryman Zander Lombard last year, and he returns to his homeland older, wiser and ready to kick on.
"It's been a tough six months with the swing changes I've been working on," he said.
"I got a little bit too into the game and maybe a little bit too technical with the golf swing. Then I lost a bit of confidence on unfamiliar grasses and different golf courses and in different conditions. It was tough to play with the sort of confidence I can play with back home.
"It was eye-opening and I knew that last year was going to be a difficult learning experience just to see what it was like to play in Europe. This year, I know what I'll need to do and hopefully I can build confidence in this new swing that I've invested in and I can put a few decent performances together.
"You try to just overthink the game instead of just going out there and playing the sport that you grew up loving – just enjoying it and smiling. You've got to keep telling yourself that it's better than working behind a desk!
"There was a part of me that didn't believe I was consistent enough to play on the world stage. I just didn't think my swing was consistent enough for me to continuously churn out those kinds of scores.
You've got to keep telling yourself that it's better than working behind a desk! - Haydn Porteous
"One day it would be 67 and the next day I'd battle to a 73. I just didn't enjoy playing that sort of golf. I wanted to be able to shoot 69 week-in, week-out and just keep making money. Even if I wasn't going to be winning every tournament, I'd still be making a decent living.
"And with lots of consistency, and giving yourself a chance of being in the top ten, you also give yourself a chance to eventually win."
Porteous is experiencing all the trappings of being a defending champion on the European Tour for the first time this week and is loving being back in Johannesburg.
"It's a pretty special place to come back to," he said. "To drive in and have your own parking spot and all the good memories I have from last year and, of course, through junior golf and amateur golf.
"It's really nice to be in a familiar place and I hope it's a good week."
