Luke Buttigieg at Moonah Links, Sportal
Mark Hensby has endured a frustrating couple of years in which he admits he lost his way on the course amid poor form and injury.
The 37-year-old has experienced some great days as a golf professional, winning the John Deere Classic in 2004 and the Scandinavian Masters in 2005 - a year in which he made the cut at all four majors and tied for third at the US Open, fifth at the US Masters and 15th at the British Open.
But in more recent times Hensby has had to battle a loss of form, which he concedes he still can't explain because at his best, 'I didn't know why I was good', and more recently a shoulder injury that put paid to his 2009 season.
Having lost his US PGA Tour card in 2008 Hensby then spent a bit over four months recuperating from the shoulder ailment - which was making his swing rounder because he was reluctant to lift his arm - as he opted not to have surgery but instead gave it time to heal itself.
That took him through until June last year and while he has had no further concerns since then the time he was off the course meant that he didn't have a tour to play on last year and made only two cuts from his five starts on the main American tour.
Fast forward seven months, though, and with a circuit to play on in 2010, the Nationwide Tour, he's looking to continue the good form that saw him finish fifth at last week's co-sanctioned New Zealand Open.
"I was hitting the ball really well before last week (in NZ) but you never know how you're going to do in a tournament because you can practice all you like," Hensby said on Wednesday afternoon in the lead-up to this week's Moonah Classic.
"But I played well, I was No.1 in greens in regulation last week and what was funny was I was pretty nervous on Sunday even though I wasn't sure if I had a chance or not."
"I felt like I've still got it so that was a bit of a confidence booster."
"(But) I haven't played a lot of golf over the last two years so maybe it's a case of getting in and playing and being keen and getting nervous because I have to be nervous to play well, I think most people do."
"I definitely haven't felt that over the last few years. I think because I know I haven't been playing well it takes a little pressure off you."
Hensby, who finished tied for 39th behind champion Peter Lonard when the 2003 Australian Open was held at Moonah Links, admits that he just didn't see his form slump coming and has been unable to work out what caused it.
"I must admit when I was probably 26th or 27th in the world I never thought I'd be back down on the Nationwide Tour and I hoped that I wouldn't be but things kind of happened and you've got to try and restart," he added.
"Even to this day, even though I had the injuries, it's still like most guys can overcome them and come back and play well but it just seems like I haven't been able to get anything going."
"I think a lot of things happened real quick, I don't know whether it was just 'hey, things went right for a couple of years'."
"I didn't know why I was good or why I was playing well and I think that's a problem. If you're up there and you're playing well and you know why you're playing well I think you can stay there but if you're not sure I think it's easier to fall off."
The subsequent drop down the rankings 'irks everyday' but Hensby has worked hard in the off-season and is 'definitely keen now because when you see other guys that you've played against doing well it kind of gets you eager and keen to play again'.
"It must be, but it (the loss of form) doesn't feel mental though," said Hensby who doesn't have a regular coach.
"You still prepare the same and you still do the same things and I'm not thinking bad ... it just hasn't happened."