Marco Penge is hoping to find a high point in his "nightmare" season as he tees it up on home soil at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo.
The Englishman had a remarkable breakout season in 2026, winning three times on the DP World Tour to push Rory McIloy all the way in the hunt for Race to Dubai glory.
That also earned him dual membership with the PGA TOUR but his debut season as an international player has been blighted by illness and injury.
Penge, a fan favourite due to his open and honest approach, has been candid about his struggles with an issue that has affected his ear, neck and nervous system and forced him to withdraw from the U.S. Open.
And while he admits it has not been the 12 months he wanted since he finished sixth at The Belfry 12 months ago, he feels he is now better placed to balance the challenges of life on and off the course.
"The whole season has been a bit of a nightmare, really," he said. "As soon as I got that virus at the DP World Tour Championship and battled through that and went down to Australia and played in South Africa and was continuing to chase my tail in a way and to keep pushing and pushing, it just got too much for me.
"I had three weeks off in December, and the three weeks off, I was ill; and then the move to America; and my wife was pregnant.
"New clubs, new tour, new environment, becoming a dad of two, a lot of stuff at once, especially for a 27-year-old.
"It just got way too much for me personally from a mental and physical standpoint. It's a lesson I've learned in my career. It's kind of inevitable that that will happen at some point to anyone. It's been a bit of a nightmare, really.
"I should have never started the season, really. I think I withdrew from Hawaii due to my neck. I kept pulling my neck when I was practising due to my ear. I was kind of on antibiotics for a month. Trying diet stuff. Trying to find a way through it and nothing was happening and continued playing.
"I started the season with four weeks on the trot and then I had two weeks off in the hospital with my son and my wife giving birth. Then played seven on the trot.
"Until I walked away, I had not even realised what I achieved last year. I was just so in a tunnel vision to make sure I wasn't being complacent, and yeah, forgot about everything else in my life in a way. I suppose probably I lost a bit of happiness because of that.
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"It was great to have six weeks off without touching a club and spending time with my family and being an actual dad for them. Then I come back and played some good stuff, which is good, and showed some positive signs."
Despite his recent hardships, Penge did not apppear downbeat as he faced the assembled press at The Belfry and revealed he was delighted to be back on the DP World Tour.
Sitting 112th on the FedExCup, Penge's focus after this week will shift to the Fall Series rather than the Back 9 as he aims to maintain his position as a dual member.
So he is eager to make the most of his week on home soil in front of what are set to be bumper crowds.
"I've missed this Tour," he said. "Going to the PGA TOUR has been a great experience and a great place for me to improve, but you know, there's nothing like being back on the DP World Tour, and after the success I had last year, it's nice to be seeing familiar faces and catching up with lots of different people.
"I believe my game is in pretty good shape and it's always nice to play in front of a home crowd. I had that at The Open and Scottish Open as well. Yeah, there's nothing better than playing in front of a British crowd."
