Jaco Van Zyl feels he is ready to win on the European Tour at last as he prepares to tee it up at the Joburg Open this week.
The home favourite is a prolific winner in his homeland, with 14 victories on the Sunshine Tour, but his best finish on the European Tour has been second on five occasions, including just three weeks ago at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Another of those runner-up finishes came here at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in 2015, where he also finished third in 2012, so with local knowledge and some decent form, Van Zyl will be one of the men to watch this week.
His talent has never been in question and the man who turns 38 on Thursday feels he is now also mentally in a place where he can get over the line.
"It really feels like I have broken through that extra barrier," he said. "I'm feeling a lot more comfortable in the position and I feel like I can be in charge when I am in that position instead of backing off a little bit.
"So I think it's really close and I know I have been saying it for a little while but hopefully this year is going to be the breakthrough.
"It doesn't matter how good you are or how well-prepared you are. If you don't feel like you belong here, you are not going to achieve."
Torrential rain early in the week led to the cancellation of the Pro-Am on Tuesday and ground staff have been working round the clock to get the course back in tip-top condition for the start of the action on Thursday.
I think it's really close and I know I have been saying it for a little while but hopefully this year is going to be the breakthrough - Jaco Van Zyl
Van Zyl knows that he will have to be patient with more rain forecast but is just delighted to be back on home soil.
"It's great to be back," he said. "We really hope the weather will play well this week because the forecast is not looking too great. It's going to be super long this week but I'm very excited.
"The nice thing is that it's at home so it's one of those weeks where you really have to be patient and know that there are going to be delays."
Dean Burmester is another home player hoping to go well and he was full of praise for the staff as they get the course ready for one of South Africa's biggest events.
"It's surprisingly really, really good," he said. "The course is looking in great condition considering all the rain. A lot of them working on the bunkers, obviously the bunkers are full of water but I think the greenskeeping staff are doing a great job.
"I think come tomorrow morning it will be ship-shape and everybody will have a good time."
The top three players in the top ten at the end of the week that are not already exempt will earn a place in the field at The Open Championship and Burmerster, after two top tens in four events this year, is gunning for a spot at Royal Birkdale.
"There's lot of incentives if you play well, The Open qualifying spots and things like that this week," he said.
"I feel like I am playing pretty well and obviously I have had a pretty good run this year from the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
"I wasn't quite at my best last week to be fair but I'm looking forward to getting back to my best and I will be doing a little bit of work this afternoon. Come tomorrow morning tee-time, I should be ready."
