KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's top golfer David Smail is back in the swing after a seven-week break and rarin' to go in the US$650,000 ($834,400) New Zealand PGA Championship at Clearwater starting on Thursday.
Smail, 37, has played in seven previous tournaments at the Christchurch resort course and has missed the cut only once.
He has twice been the best-placed New Zealander with a tie for 10th in 2006 being his best result.
Runner-up in the Australian PGA and 45th in the Australian Open in December, Smail has eased back into the game over the last three weeks at the Lochiel range, Hamilton.
"I had a few good finishes in Japan and in Australia at the end of last year but since then I've been having good family time and have been at the beach a lot. I feel very refreshed and ready to get back into it."
Smail said he was practising on the Clearwater course before 7am yesterday not realising it was closed because of heavy overnight rain. "I managed to play six holes before being kicked off."
Smail said he found the greens were running at a good speed and he was looking forward to the challenge of the back nine.
"The back nine is pretty tight and is demanding of the tee shots which I like, even though I've had trouble on it over the years."
Smail said he often started the year slowly and finished it strongly.
He intends sticking to his usual schedule of playing most of the Australasian Tour events as well as 20 on the Japanese Tour and he has a start in this year's British Open.
- NZPA
