More of the same, please. That was the message from Eddie Pepperell after emerging unscathed from his opening two rounds in challenging conditions at the Nexo Championship.
Building on the momentum gained from a level-par 72 in the first round which featured three birdies in succession on his back nine, the Englishman carded a 71 on day two to head into the weekend at one under.
With many in the field struggling, a typically candid Pepperell was left describing the test at Trump International Golf Links Scotland as a “great leveller” for his game.
"I have always thought links golf and windy golf is just a leveller for me," said Pepperell.
"Everyone gets worse while I just kind of just stay at my level. I definitely feel like that has happened these two days.
"It used to happen when I was playing really well. I was a great links player but for me my game didn’t change a lot in windy links conditions, week on week, whereas for a lot of other guys they had to make significant changes."
Shortly after completing his second round, just four holes were playing under par over the Old Course on the Aberdeenshire coastline, highlighting the challenge some of the best on the DP World Tour are facing.
While there were some good scores being made, perhaps most notably by Marco Penge who recovered from opening with a triple-bogey eight on Friday to card a 68 that featured nine birdies, others were being blown off course.
However, Pepperell, playing this season without full rights on the DP World Tour after losing his card last year, is going about his business in steady fashion, mixing three birdies with two bogeys in his second round.
While feeling comfortable in these conditions, the fan favourite was indebted to fellow professional David Law for lending a helping hand after he broke a club during his first round.
"I didn’t get off to a very good start yesterday and was pretty frustrated and thinking about home and broke a club," he said.
"I need to thank David Law actually because I borrowed his gap wedge this morning which saw me through – it is a crucial club out there."
Playing predominantly on the HotelPlanner Tour this season, Pepperell is targeting a return to the DP World Tour and over recent weeks has begun to build some confidence.
A co-leader heading into the final round of the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge, he was forced to withdraw with an injury in June, but since then he has registered back-to-back top 20s on the HotelPlanner Tour.
The latest of those also came in Scotland, and the two-time DP World Tour winner is pleased with his approach so far this week.
"It was one of those rounds [today] where if you didn't get off to a good start, you could easily have been three or four over early doors and then you were just right up against it," he added.
"Whereas I actually polayed the first four holes really well. I saw off probably the toughest part of the golf course with a lot of good golf.
"There is clearly some good stuff in there and I'll just try and keep my head down."
