Despite finding the going on the European Tour a bit tough in the second half of this year, Jin Jeong arrives at the Perth International with confidence - as the defending champion.
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The Victorian-based South Korean says even though he is feeling a bit more pressure this year, he is relaxed leading into Thursday's opening round at the Lake Karrinyup golf course.
And for him, it's all a part of a steep learning curve.
Jeong beat Englishman Ross Fisher in a play-off last year, winning exemption on the Europen Tour until the end of 2015.
And while he finished in the money in four of his first six tournament this season - including tying for second in the JoBurg Open in February - he has only made the cut twice in the past 16 tournaments he has played in.
As a result, Jeong has changed his coach and hisswing since his triumph in Perth last year.
But he's back among familiar faces in Australia and at the course that gave him his first professional win.
"Because of the win I play European Tour full time, which is great. I travel a lot, all over Europe," he said.
"I haven't been playing great the last four or five months. I had a great start to the year, so I am learning all new experiences this year and enjoying being on tour.
"Learning just how to manage myself a little bit better and how to prepare tournament. We see all different courses, so every week is different country, different course, different style of course, and different type of grass.
"I need to learn how to adapt and play well those new conditions. It's been a really good experience; just a learning curve I guess."
The field for this week's even includes three major champions – Jason Dufner, Charl Schwartzel and Australian Geoff Ogilvy, as well as highly rated Frenchman Victor Dubuisson.
Jeong is rated a 150-1 long-shot to become the first Korean to win the same event in back-to-back years.
The 24-year-old appears to be ignoring those odds though and having everyone on course in the build up to the event reminding him that he is the defending champion may be one of the reasons for his confidence of a bold showing.
"I guess that's my challenge for this week. It's part of not thinking about other stuff other than like my goal, my game," he said.
"That's what I'm trying to do at the moment, but everyone I go past says same thing – 'defending champion'.
"I was hitting pretty good all day yesterday and today, so, yeah, I think it's helping me."