Tommy Fleetwood is confident he can learn from last week's home disappointment when he tees it up at the Italian Open at Gardagolf Country Club.
The European Tour is in Rolex Series mode for the second consecutive week, with an elite field gathered to battle it out for the seven million US dollar prize fund available in Brescia, including reigning Race to Dubai champion Fleetwood.
The Englishman was one of the biggest draws at last week's BMW PGA Championship but a 77 on Saturday gave him too big a mountain to climb, with Francesco Molinari completing a brilliant performance to take the first Rolex Series title of the year.
Fleetwood will be hoping to turn the tables this week and win in Molinari's back yard, and he believes his Saturday slip at Wentworth Club can only make him stronger.
"Last week was one of the busiest weeks I've ever had as a pro," he said. "It was great and I had a lot of home support and I loved every minute of it but it was very busy. This week it'll be a bit quieter but the goals are the same, ultimately come Sunday I want to be in the same position and the golf is what matters.
"It makes it a little bit easier to practise and prepare when you've got that little bit more time but you're always trying to do the same things.
"Rounds like Saturday, I try to keep away from too often and it was just one of those days where I did everything wrong and it just came out of nowhere. Sunday when I played very well it was always going to be little bit disappointing when I'd put myself in such a good position after Friday but it happens.
"Golf has a way of kicking you in the teeth sometimes. You need days like that just to learn from and to move forward, you're not going to keep going forward if everything is all hunky dory so, appreciate the good days, learn from the bad days and hopefully I can take some of that stuff that I've learned into this week and make sure it doesn't happen again."
Golf has a way of kicking you in the teeth sometimes. You need days like that just to learn from and to move forward - Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood has finished in the top ten the past two years at the Italian Open and while Gardagolf is a new layout to him, he is once again enjoying his time in Italy.
"Last year was a different scenario to this year," he said. "I think it was my second tournament back after having a baby and it was getting towards the end of the year on the Race to Dubai and there was a lot going on.
"I have always enjoyed coming to Italy, I love the coffee. It's really nice, it's a nice vibe. We've been at the same course for two or three years so coming to a different venue that we've never been to before, there's just a little bit more prep needed."
Rafa Cabrera Bello had an in-depth look at the layout on the shores of Lake Garda on Tuesday and he thinks accuracy off the tee may be the key to victory this week.
"The event is a great event and this part of the world is very beautiful, so I am happy to be back," he said.
"I played the back nine today and the course looks great. It is old school, which is something nice because we don't have the opportunity to play that so often. It felt nice and a bit tricky, hopefully the rain will stay away and the course will dry up, but I think it's going to be a good test.
"The rough felt thick out there so I think driving and being in the fairway is going to be very important and with the greens as they played a bit soft today, you can take a big advantage from solid iron play. So if you can hit the fairways and knock them in you can really hit them very close."
The Spaniard finished in a tie for eighth last week at Wentworth and would love to add a second Rolex Series title to last season's Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open triumph.
"I felt I had a good week last week," he added. "I finished top ten, the game went from less to more, as we say in Spain, but it improved throughout the week. I drove it very good, around the greens it was very sharp as well, maybe a bit of improvement needed on my iron game to the green but I feel it is coming in the right direction.
"The importance the Rolex Series has on the European Tour schedule is magnificent. It has raised the standard of the European Tour at a really high level and to be part of that last year was great. I would love to be part of the Rolex Series winners' circle again this week."
