Home favourite Ewen Ferguson revealed securing his maiden DP World Tour victory in March has given him inner confidence as he made a strong start at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open.
The 26-year-old Scot entered the winner's circle for the first time on the DP World Tour at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters just over three months ago.
And after firing an opening 67 at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick on Thursday, Ferguson said that experience has made him see himself in a different light.
"I think I see myself a little bit differently when I'm out there," said Ferguson, who sat six shots behind early clubhouse leader Cameron Tringale after his course record-equalling 61.
"It gives you that inner confidence knowing I've got over the line, I can make big putts, I can handle pressure.
"So that gives me a lot of confidence.
"Once you're out there, though, you just need to battle the elements and see what you can do.
"Because it's links golf. You can get on the wrong side of things quite easily at times.
"I was really delighted with that start."
Ferguson is part of a world-class field gathered in Scotland for the third Rolex Series event of the 2022 season, with some of the biggest stars from both the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR battling it out at the co-sanctioned event.
He is pleased to get the chance to tee it up in a PGA TOUR event.
"I've always wanted to play some PGA TOUR stuff so to have that kind of link I think is fantastic," added Ferguson.
"I played with a couple of friends, Li Haotong and Joaquin Niemann, who I know from when I was younger so that made me feel quite calm and it was nice to hold onto each other out there and try to help each other out."
