Conor Purcell has emerged from a weary winter bursting with optimism and is eager to spring into action as he bids for an immediate return to the DP World Tour.
Purcell spent two months in Ireland to rest and reflect on a bruising rookie DP World Tour campaign which saw him lose his card. He knows that coming back down to the HotelPlanner Tour will put a target on his back for those looking to overtake him but he feels mentally refreshed and ready to tackle a season off broadway.
“I’m very excited, I had a long off-season, I had two months at home which was probably one of the longest stints I’ve done so now I am eager to get back out competing and ready to kick off the season down here,” said Purcell who spent a week in the Middle East in preparation for the four South African events which open the new season.
“I had a niggling injury towards the end of last year so took the time to get over that stuff and get the body right and the mind. Last year was tough but I used the time at home to put the clubs away and reflect and figure out a plan for this year. I hit the ground running early in December and I have plenty of energy.”
Purcell kicks off his return to the HotelPlanner Tour at the SDC Open and feels that some hard work back in Ireland has put him in the correct frame of mind for the season ahead.
“I think for me, mentally if I’m in a decent space I will be able to play some decent golf so I’ve put in some solid work on my game in a few areas that needed working on and I feel like my head is in a good space,” said the two-time winner in the 2024 season.
“I am excited for this week but you never know how it’s going to go first week back, there will be little bits of rust here and there but over the course of the year I am backing myself.”
The 28-year-old had grafted his way to the DP World Tour last year but a season which promised much delivered very little with fourteen missed cuts proving his downfall. It was a tough learning curve for him and often he was the only Irishman competing on the DP World Tour.
Loneliness is no excuse for his struggles last year although he is enjoying having someone to split the dinner bills with this week as he joins Liam Nolan, Max Kennedy, Ronan Mullarney and newly married Gary Hurley at Zebula Golf Estate & Spa.
“There was definitely times where I missed the camaraderie of having the Irish lads out there but I wouldn’t say that being lonely had anything to do with me not playing great golf, it’s just the way it fell and I didn’t capitalise on anything for the year.
“We already have five of us out here this week so it’s nice to have a good bunch of lads and have some dinners together this week.”
Familiar faces and locations could help the Portmarnock man return to form sooner rather than later. He has finishes of 6th and 7th from his last South African stint in 2023 so he knows what to expect from playing at altitude.
“There is some familiarity, I’ve played down here a lot before and it’s always nice to come back to venues you’ve been to before you know the layout of the land and looking forward to it.
“I always respond quite well to an extended period away from golf. Having the two months at home gives you that hunger again to get back competing and tackle a busy year ahead. I’ve done well here before.
“We have a bit of elevation here which is always tricky when you’re coming from home, the ball is going ten percent further. Most people who play yards just play metres and adjust how they hit shots. This week the premium is on hitting fairways as the rough is quite juicy.”
Promotion is on the mind of Purcell as it is Kennedy and Nolan after near misses last year. The 2019 Walker Cup star gets his campaign underway alongside South Africa’s Ryan Van Velzen and American Palmer Jackson.
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