New Zealand's Lydia Ko hopes her early trans-Atlantic travel will pay dividends when she contests the Women's British Open in Scotland this week.
World No.2 Ko, still without a major title in 15 attempts, is in good form heading into her latest bid at Turnberry.
She placed fourth in last week's Scottish Ladies Open and was third at the LPGA's Marathon Classic in Ohio a week earlier.
The Scottish tournament, 50km away in Troon, gave Ko a chance to test herself on a links course and to experience something close to the weather conditions which are forecast to be wet and windy when the Open tees off on Thursday.
"In the States, we use a lot of bounce when we are chipping around the greens," Ko said.
"Here, that's the last thing you need. I think the short game and just trying to get a good feel with links style was really the big thing and it helped a lot last week."
The 18-year-old has another shot this week to break American Morgan Pressel's record as the youngest women's major champion.
It is her fourth appearance at the Women's British Open, having earned low amateur honours in 2012 (17th) and 2013 (42nd) and finished tied for 29th last year at Royal Birkdale.
She can reclaim the world No.1 ranking but only if she wins the tournament and top-ranked Korean Inbee Park finishes outside the top 20.
Meanwhile, Ko reiterated to journalists that her plan is to retire from golf at the age of 30.
She smiled when asked how many British Open wins she would like to have by then.
"I have no idea, even one would be amazing," she said.
"But it's a lot of fun playing the British Open because its not like any other event. We play these different types of golf courses that we don't play during our normal events.
"Unfortunately its only once a year but that's what makes it really special."
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