Jayden Schaper is hoping his break from competition will prove to his advantage in the long run as he returns to DP World Tour action at the Turkish Airlines Open.
The South African enjoyed a dream start to the 2025-26 Race to Dubai schedule, winning back-to-back titles in December as he played in seven of the first eight events either side of the new year.
Schaper, having risen inside into the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking during that fruitful stretch, then played twice during the International Swing on home soil but has not played since the Joburg Open in early March.
During his time off, he has celebrated his 25th birthday and spent time back home with family and friends, enjoying some safari visits to the world-renowned Kruger National Park.
After a near two-month break, he is third in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, behind Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, and focus is now back on building up a consistency of performance again as this week’s event in Türkiye bridges the end of the Asian Swing and start of the upcoming European Swing.
“You don’t really get much time off nowadays so just to stay at home, spend time at home, see the girlfriend [was nice]," he said during an in-round interview on day one at the National Golf Club in Belek, Antalya.
"Back at home, I went to the bush a few times. I went with my dad, a couple of my mates a few times so it was just nice to see the animals [and] get your mind off everything.
“It’s still a long season ahead but it’s obviously nice to get off to a good, solid start to the season like that.
"[The focus] is to just stay consistent, keep competing and keep racking up the points and hopefully finish at the top of the Race to Dubai.”
