Defending Horizon Irish Open champion Lucas Herbert is hopeful that the experience at last year's tournament can put him in contention for a repeat this weekend.
The 26-year-old Australian enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory at Mount Juliet last July and returns to the same course to defend that title.
"It's pretty sweet. Just getting around the property, seeing it all again, bringing back memories from last year, it's pretty nice. Pretty special," he said at the press conference in Thomastown, Kilkenny.
"Obviously, a lot of good memories from last year. We just played nine holes and felt like a trip down memory lane for two hours, talking about all the shots, where the pins were, the crowds.
"My Mum and Dad are here this year, my girlfriend, and I'm explaining what went on last year and I'm sure they don't really care. They were watching it on TV but it felt cool taking a trip down memory lane."
The Irish Open spectators were another aspect that has been fuelling Herbert's positive memories of the event.
"Most of our practice round today we were discussing the crowd, how excited, especially around 14 green, how excited they were getting," he said.
"They are always really respectful. Obviously, they were getting pretty vocal for me last year but I feel like they are really respectful. They knew when to clap and when not to and in terms of what a good shot looked like. I feel like you can cop it a little bit in America if you're not absolutely perfect.
"This week and the next two weeks in Scotland and The Open, everyone on Tour knows they are some of the best crowds on Tour. They appreciate good golf when they see it. It's something I'm definitely looking forward to having around again this year."
A 19-under-par mark proved enough to seal victory in 2021 and Herbert believes 20 under is the target to set to be in the mix for a triumph at Mount Juliet.
But he admitted that the weather could knock those targets off course.
"I don't know that I necessarily enjoy being out in this weather, but I do seem to do well in it. We are kind of licking our lips when we do see the wind forecast blowing 20-mile-an-hour or little bit of drizzle on the horizon," he said.
"I don't know, I think it just makes you focus that extra bit harder. You're probably not given as many options for what shots to hit either. Middle of the fairway, 150 yards out with no wind, you've got three or four different clubs you can try and hit.
"But once that wind gets up, you're pushed into one or two different options, and it requires that extra little bit of imagination and the ability to just see different shots in the wind, to be able to visualise how they come out and be able to react and get to them."
Watch the Horizon Irish Open live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Thursday and Friday from 1pm-6pm. Day 3 and 4 coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 1.10pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
