America's Kevin Kisner admits he has gone back to the beginning as he prepares to defend his RSM Classic title.
Kisner claimed his maiden victory on the PGA Tour at Sea Island 12 months ago, storming to a six-shot victory with a record total of 22 under par.
That helped erase the heartache of missing out in three play-offs in the space of eight events earlier in the season and saw the 32-year-old climb to a career-high of 14th in the world rankings.
However, in trying to change his swing and get even better, Kisner went backwards instead and returns to Sea Island 41st in the rankings after four top-10 finishes in his last 25 starts.
"I struggled all of this last year," Kisner said in quotes reported by USA Today.
"We worked so hard to get to what I wanted to achieve, John (Tillery, his coach) and I, and we probably branched off of it a touch trying to get better.
"Sometimes you don't have to get better. Sometimes you just have to keep doing what you're doing so we've kind of gone full circle back to what we were working on, which is the things that got us to where we were.
"We've set up a plan and we'll see what happens with the results.
"I'm seeing results on the range. The big difference from the range and the golf course is what has been difficult for me all year. I've struggled on the golf course, putting too much pressure on myself. I've just got to get back to playing golf and making a bunch of birdies."
Kisner will partner fellow Americans Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson in the first two rounds, with two-time major winner Johnson making his first appearance since helping the United States win the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine.
Ryder Cup captain Davis Love, who is the tournament host, is alongside two of his victorious team in Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker, while European vice-captain Ian Poulter and former world number one Luke Donald are also in the field.
Source: PA
