Pepperell keen to be in contention at Hero Open

Eddie Pepperell is keen to build on a decent return to action last week when he tees up in the Hero Open at Forest of Arden Marriott Hotel & Country Club.

The 29-year-old hit three rounds in the 60s at Close House before a disappointing final day 77 saw him finish tied for 47th.

However, the Englishman is confident his game is in good shape should he find himself in contention this weekend.

“I'm terrible on undulating courses so for the first three days (last week) I was quite pleased with how I hit the ball,” he said. “My putting wasn't up to much. I remember putting badly there in 2017.

“All in all, plenty of positives for me to address if I wanted to, and a couple of negatives: I'm not going to dwell on those too much. The game still feels relatively good. Hugely different course this week, a few different challenges to look forward to.

“It's a good course. The back nine especially is stunning actually. Couldn't believe how good it was yesterday when I played it.

“I think with me, historically even in the biggest events with crowds, when I have been in 30th position I really struggled. For me, I think when you look at my results, they tend to be a lot of missed cuts or 50th positions, or top fives and tens, there doesn’t seem to be much in the middle with me.

“I do have a hard time really getting motivated when I am not in contention to win or at least finish high up, and last week didn’t feel hugely different. For most of the week I felt like there was an opportunity for me to finish in that top five spot but then once I made double bogey on the 12th hole on the final day, that is probably what you saw manifest in terms of the way I finished the rest of that round, my head was nowhere to be seen and that is typical of me and it always really has been in my career.”