New father Nicolai von Dellingshausen is staying patient on the course as he adjusts to a new life off it after welcoming his son into the world in February.
As a first-time defending champion at this week’s Austrian Alpine Open presented by Kitzbühel Tirol, it goes without saying that things are different around the event but that all pales in comparison to the changes at home.
The German took a break for parental leave after the happy arrival and made his first cut as a father at the Soudal Open last week.
And he is putting no pressure on himself to perform as he adjusts to life with a little one, exuding a confidence that the hard work will pay off just as it did 12 months ago.
“A lot of things changed and a lot has stayed the same at the same time,” said of the year since his victory. “A lot of things happened after, it gave me a lot of momentum because I played really well after. At the same time my expectations were rising quite a bit so that doesn’t help me usually, trying to force things to go my way.
“My wife got pregnant just a couple of weeks after so we have a son now, so this has definitely changed a lot but a lot of great things have happened. After the win it felt like everything was falling into place, all the work we had put in was paying off in all different areas, not only golf.
“I wasn’t happy with my game the last weeks at all. It had a little bit to do with how I was hitting the ball, how my swing was feeling, how my confidence was but at the same time I really have to be patient with myself.
“We became parents around three-and-a-half months ago so things start to really settle in right now: the new role and while it sounds a bit weird, the loss of freedom every now and then.
“And it’s the greatest thing in the world, don’t get me wrong, but kind of everything falls again into place, just differently but I just have to keep on working and be patient with the game.
“It’s going to come, I’m not if sure it’s going to be this week because the results weren’t great the last weeks but I’m still looking forward to everything that is coming up the rest of the season.
“The role that you have now, you’re responsible for a small human being, not only to keep it alive but give it the right values over time.
“But also for me personally, I think when you become a parent you actually finally grow up and it brings up a lot of the things that you pushed away maybe in the past because you never had the need to look at them mentally. Now I do and it’s a tough road but it’s worth it.”
While keeping his priorities exactly where they need to be, Von Dellingshausen is still fully committed to his defence as he looks for a second DP World Tour victory.
Last year he arrived under the radar and won at Gut Altentann Golf Club, this year he arrives at a new venue in Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith under the spotlight.
But he is trying to take it all in his stride as he prepares to take on the spectacular layout in the mountains.
“It’s definitely a bit different,” he said. “It’s another tournament week so I try to have that mindset but obviously with everything around it the appointments and press conferences we have, obviously it’s different.
“I’m trying to see it in a way that I’m just trying to play golf again as I did last year, that worked out well. Whatever happens this week happens this week but I’m going to enjoy this week no matter what.”
He added of the course: “I think it’s quite tough, considering the circumstances that a couple of weeks ago there was snow up here, the rough is quite thick and the greens are great.
“It’s quite tight so you really have to hit it straight, if you’re in the rough sometimes you can just hack it out and take the punishment but I think it’s great. The views are incredible, I think I’m going to enjoy this week.”
