Wednesday 22 October 2014 16:20, UK
Jason Dufner is looking forward to returning to action this week after being sidelined for almost three months with neck and shoulder problems.
Dufner is honouring his committment to playing in the ISPS HANDA Perth International, and he is one of three major champions in the field at Lake Karrinyup along with Charl Schwartzel and Geoff Ogilvy.
I will just try to do my best, and if my putting is good I can win.
The American was unable to defend his PGA Championship title in August, and he was also ruled out of the FedExCup play-offs and the Ryder Cup as he recovered from injury.
Dufner admitted he was still not fully fit, but he insisted he now feels no pain while swinging the club and he has taken the chance to work hard on his putting during his enforced break from competitive golf.
"It it has been about 11 weeks since I last played so it is getting better," Dufner told the European Tour. "It was frustrating to miss the last major, the play-offs and Ryder Cup but in the end it was probably nice to do it.
"It was nice to get my fitness and health better and I worked on one of my weaknesses which was my putting.
"I've had a couple of weeks with no pain swinging the golf club and they have told me I can't do more damage."
The event is the last chance to qualify for the season-ending Final Series, with the top 78 players in the Race to Dubai standings going on to compete in four events which culminate in the DP World Tour Championship in late November.
But one player already certain of a place in the Final Series is Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson, who is relishing being one of the favourites in Perth this week.
"It's better to be one of the favourites but I will just try to do my best," said the 24-year-old.
"There are a lot of good players. Jason, Charl, and also some players who played a lot in the States and are just at the limit of qualifying for the Final Series and this is the last tournament before that.
“I think the field is really good and there are some good ranking points as well to win this week. I think we have maybe six players in top 50 in the world, so good points to have.
“I need to have a good strategy, because there can be some pretty tough pin positions. It's a short course, and if you miss on one side of the green, you have to make up for that.
"I will just try to do my best, and if my putting is good I can win.”
Live coverage of the Perth International starts at 4.30am on Sky Sports 4.
