He's got his body in order – now two-time major winner John Daly is working on repairing the mind as he attempts yet another resurrection of a career in freefall.
After shedding 50kg thanks to lap-band surgery in February, Daly will cut a more athletic figure at this week's Australian Open.
But it's upstairs where the improvement is most noticeable, according to the world No.449.
The reformed wild boy of professional golf has been seeing a sports psychologist in the States and credits him – along with the stabilising influence of partner Anna Cladakis – for helping minimising the stress, anxiety and anger that have long been his trademark.
"I'm not ashamed to admit it … I talk to a guy once a week to see how things are going," he said on Tuesday afternoon.
"He's a great guy, an athletic guy… he played tennis all of his life."
"I've always looked for someone to talk to one-on-one that's athletic."
"A lot of the people you talk to don't share the communications and athleticism that we do."
"It's nice to talk to somebody that's been in the heat of the battle, that's had the ups and downs in a career."
"(He) gives me things to think about if things aren't going good and what to keep in my mind … positives thoughts that might help me through a bad day."
"It's paid off a lot."
Daly will need all his powers of positive thinking to stay in charge at the unforgiving NSW Golf Club course.
Strong southerlies have made practice rounds a nightmare on the challenging links layout.
But Daly believes his improved body shape will help his chances of figuring deep into Sunday's final round despite describing himself as a 'rusty nail' after not having played a tournament since August.
"Losing the weight is going to give me a lot more endurance, a lot more stamina, when I'm on the golf course, especially when things aren't going so good," he explained.
"When you're out of shape and a little overweight you tend to lose focus."
"I feel like I won't get as tired as I used to. It's just gives me a chance to go out and concentrate on golf and that's something I haven't been able to do."
"I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I haven't played a tournament since August so I'm just going to go out and play."
"The golf course is absolutely gorgeous – whether you're playing good or bad at least you've got some nice views – so I'm going to go out and play the best I can and give myself a chance to play decent."
Asked if winning a third major was possible more than 14 years after his 1995 British Open triumph, Daly responded: "There is always that chance. I don't think I would keep striving to play golf and keep doing what I'm doing if I didn't think I could win."
"But I've got a long way to go. There's been tremendous changes in my body and tremendous change in my golf game."
"My swing is so much faster down that it ever has been. I used to be very slow because I was so heavy but now I'm getting through the ball I've got to get the repetition and timing as lot better."
Daly will play in Wednesday's pro-am before teeing off with local hopes James Nittties and Adam Scott in the first round of the Australian Open on Thursday.