Rhys Davies arrives at this week’s Vacon Open hoping to draw some inspiration from last year’s winner, Welsh compatriot and friend Stuart Manley, having practiced together back in their homeland in the run-up to the Challenge Tour’s return to Kytäjä Golf.
The former European Tour winner is one of two Welshman in the field at the stunning lakeside venue, outside the town of Hyvinkää, and is in good spirits as he aims for a third career Challenge Tour victory.
While this week’s event takes place over a different course from the one upon which Manley claimed an emotional maiden win this time last year, Davies knows how much it meant to his fellow South Wales resident and will be hoping to feed off those positive vibes this week.
“I know Stuart very well,” said Davies, who like Manley played in the prestigious Walker Cup before turning professional. “I actually played with him last week, we practise together now and again.
“I said something like, ‘obviously anybody can win at this tournament’, to wind him up, but I know for him it was a very big week because he had not won prior to that, and he had been playing pretty well without breaking through.
“It was really nice to see, because he works harder than anyone I know and it was nice to see him get rewarded for that.
“I am looking forward to this week. I think the golf course is lovely, the setting is fantastic and my game is coming along.
“It’s been quite frustrating because sometimes I seem to hit the ball well and my short game is not quite there and then other times my short game has been really good but I haven’t hit the ball as well.
“I'm waiting for the two to come together and hopefully that can be this week, there’s no reason why it can’t.”
While it has not quite come together for Davies yet on the course this year, he could not be happier away from the fairways after he got married last April, and that contentment was never more evident than at the recent Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf, as his wife Deidre caddied him to his best result of the year - third place.
Davies, winner of the 2010 Trophée Hassan II, feels it is now just a case of finding some momentum in the final third of the season as he looks to return to the kind of form which took him to a career high of 44th in the Official World Golf Ranking four years ago.
“It was strange having Deidre on the bag because we were both a little unsure about it beforehand,” said the Bridgend player. “It was the first week she had caddied for me but I really enjoyed it and I think she did too. She did great, it blew me away how good she was.
“Obviously we get on so well so we can talk about other stuff but it was just nice to have somebody who you care a lot about with you out there. You can share the environment, and she learned a lot because she’s watched me a lot, but it’s very different to being involved in between the ropes. It was good fun.
“What I noticed in Switzerland is that I feel more comfortable when I'm at the right end of the leaderboard, near the top. I almost feel less pressure there than when I do when I'm fighting down in the middle of the pack.
“Unfortunately I haven’t been in that situation nearly enough this year but the good thing is there are still plenty of weeks to go and lots to play for so if I can find a little something to get some momentum, then I feel like I can get some weeks together.
“There are a lot of big tournaments ahead, some good venues and plenty of money to be played for. Things can change so quickly, on this tour more than any.
“I think if I just stick at it and have a little bit more patience and if a few things go my way at the right time, there’s no reason why I can’t get in the mix come the last few events of the year.”
Davies is joined in the field by fellow Welshman, Oliver Farr, one of five winners from the 2014 season present at Kytäjä Golf. Other former European Tour winners in the field include Sweden’s Johan Edfors, Raymond Russell of Scotland and Austrian Martin Wiegele.
