Adrian Meronk may have won the Seve Ballesteros Award but he revealed the search for perfection never stops after carding an opening 68 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The Pole enjoyed a career year in the 2023 season, winning three times and moving into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking en route to being voted Player of the Year by his peers on the DP World Tour.
But that does not mean he is complacent, and the 30-year-old is working on changing his swing to challenge for the biggest titles in the game, with a Rolex Series win available this week.
That is not always an easy process and despite the changes giving him some pain this week, Meronk still put himself right in the mix after 18 holes at Emirates Golf Club.
"I think we rushed with the swing change a little bit," he said. "My lower back is aching, so I think I'm going to take it slowly. Increase my flexibility and stretch the hips, see what's possible.
"To be honest, this week doesn't really feel what I want it to be yet. So going to have to keep working and hopefully it's going to get better as the week goes on."
Meronk twice got to five under to lead in the desert on day one but bogeys on the fourth and ninth saw him slip back to four under.
He has played well at Emirates Golf Club before, finishing in the top five in 2022, and was satisified to grind out a score.
"I wasn't hitting my best all day," he said. "So I just tried to hit as many greens as possible and make putts, which I did.
"So I'm pretty happy with the end result. A little disappointed but it's OK."
