Matt Jones is hoping the confidence and experience garnered in holding off world No.1 Jordan Spieth at last year's Australian Open can catapult his game to the next level in 2016.
As the Sydneysider lines up for his return to the US PGA tour for the first time since besting Spieth and another former world No.1 Adam Scott for the Stonehaven Cup, Jones carried plenty of optimism.
Having already broken the duck in the US with a Houston Open win in 2014, Jones has targeted more wins, which he hopes starts at this week's Career Builder Challenge in La Quinta, and a more consistent level of contending, especially in big tournaments.
"It was certainly a huge confidence builder to win our national open against a quality field including the world No.1, Jones said.
"For me, it is now about taking the lessons I've learned from it and other big moments in my career and turning that into more consistent performance.
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"I know my game is at a level to compete and win more often so now it is a matter of making it happen. I'm looking forward to a big 2016."
Jones, who sits 56th in the world rankings, said his first target will be to break into the top 50 in order to garner an invite for the Masters, although a win would also see him suit up for the fight for the green jacket.
Another former Australian Open champion in Aaron Baddeley also makes an appearance this week despite having lost his tour card last season.
Baddeley is playing on past champion status only, leaving him with just a handful of chances to retain his card back whilst not playing on the secondary tour.
Thanks to a T4 finish in November Baddeley has provided a platform to make a quick jump back to the top level.
"It's nice to have started well and I know one more good finish and I can play my way into more events," Baddeley said.
Having tinkered with multiple swing changes and coaches over his career Baddeley seems to have found something with Scott Hamilton bringing back simplicity and enjoyment.
"It's the most relaxing off-season I have had," he said.
"My game didn't need to be changed. Rather than grinding on my game, I just have a few checks to worry about and I am hitting more fairways and more greens consistently everyday now.
"It's the best I have felt in a long long time and golf is fun again."
Also returning to action for the first time in 2016 is dual cancer survivor Jarrod Lyle who now has eight events left on his medical exemption to earn full status on tour.
Lyle needs to earn $US209,111 for full status or just $US35,896 to get conditional status.
Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling and Rhein Gibson make their first appearance of the year while Marc Leishman, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby and John Senden are backing up after kicking off in Hawaii last week.
