Eddie Pepperell begins what he hopes is a long and ultimately rewarding stretch of golf with new energy and optimism at the Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.
After a month-long break, the Englishman makes his return to competitive action not on the DP World Tour but on the HotelPlanner Tour in the beautiful surrounds of the Scottish Borders.
Such was the positive impression SCHLOSS Roxburghe as a venue left on him last year, it seemed a "no-brainer" for him to get back into the swing of playing with a card in hand again.
Staying onsite in one of the cottages, in the company of his wife Jen and their dogs, Gus and Pip, Pepperell appears relaxed as he sets out for the first of potentially ten events across the next 12 weeks.
"I wanted to play before starting again on the DP World Tour. I have had a bit of a break," he said.
"We enjoyed our time here last year, we stayed in this exact same cottage but without the dogs and we had a really nice week.
"We knew we would really enjoy it again and even more so with the dogs. It’s good to be back."
Pepperell finished tied 18th last year, before backing it up with a top ten at the Nexo Championship - an event he will return to later this month for a second visit to Scotland.
With his wife, who has filled in before and after his caddie Mick Doran announced his retirement in May, walking the fairways with their dogs and watching on as a fan, Pepperell is caddie-less this week.
Taking ownership of his game and on-course approach is something the two-time DP World Tour winner has spoken about publicly, including on his podcast The Chipping Forecast.
Whatever the week holds, Pepperell is intent on keeping it light and not putting unecessary expectations upon himself.
"I think it's potentially going to be good for me this week in that I'm trying to not spend too much energy," he said.
"I've got a big run of golf coming up and I've got a fair bit of rust that's built up over the last month I would say, or I imagine anyway.
"So I don't want to get overly frustrated on the golf course this week should things not go as planned or as hoped for.
"Obviously having the dogs around makes it easier to turn off in the evening and Jen as well. So hopefully it should play a positive role."
The laid-back demeanour from Pepperell is understandable.
Having made his return to the DP World Tour in a dramatic finish through Qualifying School last year, birdieing his last four holes, the 35-year-old has two top tens on the Race to Dubai this season and a further three top 20s.
As such he is 74th on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, seemingly all but assured of retaining his playing privileges for next year and with a genuine opportunity of making it to the season-ending DP World Tour Play-Offs.
"It's been a good year [so far]," he reflected.
"I don't know what I expected at the start of the year. I think if anything, there was a small bit of dread because the last full year I had on the main tour two years ago, it didn't go so well and I ended up in a bit of a hole and lost my card and was very frustrated along the way.
"Then the way I got my card back at Q-School, finishing with four birdies, again, it was a bit out of the blue and unexpected. I mean, on the 15th green, I remember before holing that putt accepting my fate of playing another year on the HotelPlanner Tour.
"Well, nine months on, it's quite different. But generally, my year on the golf course has been pretty solid.
"Not spectacular, but I would say my floor has been pretty high. I'm waiting to have that week where I can break through and really do well and have a high, high finish. But I think there's certainly been some great signs."
I'm waiting to have that week where I can break through and really do well and have a high, high finish
During his summer break, Pepperell has focused on his fitness, replicating a training stint he did last year through the winter months.
"I felt great for that," he explained. "So I think the fact that I was able to put in a good training blog earlier on in the year helped me through the months of February, March and even April.
"So given this extended run that I've got coming up, I'm hopeful that there'll be a similar effect there. So I've utilised my time off pretty well."
But that doesn't mean Pepperell hasn't offered himself some opportunity to enjoy himself, admitting to a "heavy one" at a garden party held by his long-time friend Laurie Canter over the weekend.
Such are the potential rewards on offer over the coming weeks, particularly with increasing ranking points and prize money during the upcoming Back 9 on the DP World Tour, Pepperell is aware of the possible impact a long slog on the road over the coming weeks could have.
"Two years ago, I ended up playing, I think, 13 weeks in a row, culminating in Q-School," he said.
"So I was a fairly broken man at the end of it all. So I don't want to go through that again. That being said, sadistically it was kind of enjoyable and there are benefits to it.
"The one thing that happens the more golf you play is any sort of anxiety just dissipates and completely disappears by the time you reach week four, five, six.
"So to be out on the golf course, really feeling no anxiety is in and of itself a good thing.
"What I need to add into that is some good form and if I can do that and play with some confidence then I think there could be a great run of golf ahead."
