Driving away from last year's Nedbank Golf Challenge (NGC) after finishing joint 66th in the 72-man field, Brandon Stone vowed to arrive more refreshed and in all-round better shape the next time he tees up at the Gary Player Country Club (GPCC).
That time will arrive on Thursday morning for the former South African Open champion, one of the country's most upwardly mobile young prospects.
"We took the conscious decision to take a break (before the Dunhill Links Championships) and to be refreshed for the finals series events in the Race to Dubai.
"I like playing at home. I really didn't want a situation where after Dubai I felt that I was done. It was a very conscious decision by the team because the season (year) only finishes on the 16th of December," he said about playing in next month's SA Open and the Alfred Dunhill Championships.
He'll arrive in much better shape this year. Stone took a strategic time out, and he also found time to get married and go on honeymoon to Royal Livingstone.
His game too is more flush after some minor alterations that have already yielded results with victory in the Scottish Open.
"We worked on things aimed at simplifying my game, making it more consistent week in and week out.
"We saw the fruits of that at the French Open where I played really nicely and in Ireland we played great. It all culminated at the Scottish Open. Since then I felt that I've been playing really good golf.
"The team is confident and I feel good about my game. When I walk onto the range we are not trying to change anything. Just fine-tuning."
Stone gave a technical analysis of the improvement in his swing. "We were trying to get my club path and my craft play to be a lot more neutral. I used to be a very big drawer of the golf ball so my hands used to get away from me at impact. The club used to get behind me and I used to hit a lot of hooks and a lot of blocks.
"We also worked really hard on my leg movement in my swing. My legs were very unstable and weak. We created a lot of stability and a lot of power being generated from the turf up. I'm fortunate in that I always had strong legs but I was never maximising it in my swing."
Stone admits getting more stability and in particular hitting the ball with a squarer club face have had to come with a mental adjustment. "It took a while to get used to because I was hitting it straight and no longer with a hook and it plays on the mind a little bit.
"I only owned the swing by the European summer."
That wasn't the only mental issue he has to overcome. "The biggest thing I struggle with is to get going in the tournament. My first round is typically my worst round. We are trying to get me firing out of the blocks."
He however made another slow start at this week's Turkish Airlines Open where he carded a three-over par opening round 74.
BAT OUT OF TURKEY
Irrespective of what happens in the remainder of that event he needs to leave Turkey behind him quickly.
"We'll get there as early as we can," he said about getting to Sun City. "We will come up with a game plan for how we feel in the moment. We'll see where the game is and determine which holes to take on and which to play defensively.
"Experience plays a role, without a doubt. The GPCC is not a course you suss out in a day. You need to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them," he said, although not quite with the gravitas of crooner Kenny Rogers.
"There are certain holes on that course I know I really don't like. But there are also holes that people find tough but I enjoy.
"It obviously has a lot more sentimental value. It is another trophy on offer and we'll see if we can put ourselves in contention come Sunday afternoon," said Stone.
He'll have his work cut out this week. Rory McIlroy and Branden Grace are joined by former champions Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and George Coetzee. Europe's Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn will also be there on Thursday.
EMBRACING THE CHALLENGE
Other big names will be confirmed after Turkey but Stone is undaunted about performing on home soil in the NGS.
"The SA Open is very prestigious but the NGC has always been that tier above it just with regards to strength of field and quality of golf course. The tournament's aura, the spectators and the overall feel around the event at Sun City for that week does put a lot more pressure on the South Africans.
"(But) That's why we practice as hard as we do, that's why we play for those moments to compete against the best in the world under high stress, high pressure.
"If you are not the kind of player that finds that appealing, this probably isn't an occupation for you."..