Kiradech Aphibarnrat was delighted to be feeling comfortable on the golf course again after firing a stunning 64 on the opening day of the 2021 BMW PGA Championship.
The Thai achieved one of his five Rolex Series top tens at Wentworth Golf Club in 2018 and made seven birdies in eight holes after the turn on the West Course to get to eight under.
It has not been the easiest of times for the likeable 32-year-old since injuring his knee at the 2019 Masters Tournament, with no top tens on the European Tour and a broken schedule due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He did not play competitively anywhere in the world for 24 weeks in 2020 and missed 11 of his first 15 cuts worldwide in 2021.
But fresh off regaining his US PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour, Aphibarnrat was delighted to be back playing well on the European Tour.
"I can't remember at all, I'm just trying to get that out of my head!" he said of his run of missed cuts earlier in the year.
"I've had a really hard time the last two years. Playing with the injury, hurting my right knee after The Masters and then when Covid hit I had to go back to my country and was stuck in the country for eight months - I couldn't play much golf.
"When I came back out, I just couldn't get the rhythm to play at golf events. I was getting nerves to go on the first tee, I didn't know how to move the ball, I didn't feel comfortable on the golf course at all.
"After I got my (PGA) Tour card back from the Korn Ferry finals it loosened me up so that I feel free to play my own game, I feel more comfortable on the golf course."
I just want to come up here and enjoy every single minute that I spend on the European Tour, every time I come back it just feels like home
Aphibarnrat's run of seven birdies in eight holes on the back nine was followed by an impressive par save after getting into bunker trouble on the last, and he was delighted with his day's work.
"Incredible run, to be honest," he said. "My putter was working really well today, a lot of good ball striking, tee to green was lovely.
"I think I had a couple of missed shots, especially the last hole...I holed a long par putt, which is fantastic.
"I really enjoy it. I just want to come up here and enjoy every single minute that I spend on the European Tour, every time I come back it just feels like home. I feel comfortable over here - I see some friends, see my coaches.
"It's a lovely golf course. I enjoy it every time I come back to Wentworth."
