WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AFP) - Golf's US PGA Tour heads to West Virginia this week for the US$6.5 million (S$8.1 million) Greenbrier Classic, as Swede Jonas Blixt seeks his first victory since hoisting the trophy last year.
The 30-year-old would like nothing more than to get his game back on track after missing the cut in six of his last nine events.
"As a golfer you can never be happy," Blixt said. "Probably 80 per cent of the time I am not happy with how I play and 20 per cent of the time I am happy with it.
"There is no perfect shot in golf. The more I play, I find the more of a struggle it is at times. You are trying to reach where you've been once before, where everything comes to you... instead of you trying to get there."
Blixt will tee off in a group with FedEx Cup standings leader Jimmy Walker and Scott Stallings when the tournament begins on Thursday at The Old White course.
Two-time Masters winner Bubba Watson, Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley and Steve Stricker are in the field, but Tiger Woods - recovering after injury - is not.
There are four spots in the British Open up for grabs.
Blixt says he is close to returning to the form he had last year.
"It has been a bit of a roller coaster," he said. "I struggled last month. I don't feel like I am too far off. It wouldn't surprise me if I played well this week."
Last year, Blixt fired a final-round 67 and finished at 13-under-par 267 for a two-stroke win over Walker, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones and Johnson Wagner. It was an up-and-down closing round but he still managed to hold off the field for his second win on the US Tour.
"Winning this tournament got me into a few other events and a little higher level events like the British Open, all the majors and stuff like that. I felt like I took a big step both that way and confidence-wise."
Earlier this year, Blixt tied for second at The Masters but not much else has gone his way.
He has just one top-10 finish so far. In 18 tournaments, Blixt has missed the cut eight times. At The Players Championship he made the first cut but missed the secondary one following the third round.
Multiple Major champions Nick Faldo and Tom Watson also join the field. Australia's Stuart Appleby will play this week as he looks to recreate the magic from 2010 when he closed with a blistering 59 to clinch the title.
World No. 3 Watson recently moved into a new home close by The Old White course.
"It is nice being able to sleep in your own bed. I am excited about the week," he said.
