Scott Gregory’s sights firmly fixed on winning his European Tour card back in 2021

The Waterlooville-based professional, who plays out of Corhampton Golf Club, is currently putting in the hard yards preparing for a season on the Challenge Tour.

But the 26-year-old is hoping it's a year which ends with him achieving a spot back with the biggest names the sport has to offer.

The former Crookhorn College pupil made it onto the European Tour for the first time through Q School in 2019, although it would last for just a season.

Yet, Gregory – the 2016 British Amateur champion - feels he's now playing better than when he won a main tour card and cannot wait to get on the course and show it.

He said: ‘The aim is to finish in the top 20 on the order of merit and get my European Tour card back.

‘The top 20 is obviously the end goal, I’d like to win this year on Challenge Tour, but just to aim consistently throughout the year and that’ll get the job done.

‘I feel like if I carry on doing what I was doing last year, I’ve made a few improvements over the winter, and I want to build on that and put together consistent results.

‘If you put yourself in contention enough times then you’re going to figure out how to get across the line.

‘I’m playing better now than when I got the European Tour card, which is a good feeling.

‘It’s an exciting year and I’m just looking forward to getting going. It feels like a time since we played properly, I guess.'

Unlike the first national lockdown, Gregory - who has competed in four Majors, including the British Open in 2016 after winning the Amateur title the same year - can continue to use the course at Corhampton for training as an elite sportsman.

He believes his hard work on an area of his game that previously has been a problem will hopefully be markedly improved for the forthcoming season.

Portsmouth-born Gregory admitted his play off the tee has long been a weak point but he hopes it's an issue that is progressively getting better.

He said: 'My game feels in good shape. It’s always tricky at this time of year because you’re out there in three or four layers, the greens aren’t always as quick as they’re going to be in tournaments so it’s a little bit different.

‘I’ve got a lot better off tee which was one of the things that held me back a few years ago.

‘I’ve just made slight changes throughout my game and I can see it helping in practice and playing at home, so it’s going to be good fun getting out there and seeing how it holds up under competition.

‘I had some good finishes and played some good golf on the Challenge Tour towards the end (of last season) so it’s given me a good area to work on going forward into this season.'

His best finishes in 2020 were tied eighth in the Italian Challenge Open in October and tied 14th in the Andalucía Challenge de Cádiz in Spain the following month - earning 6,550 and 3,000 Euros respectively.

The 2021 Challenge Tour season is scheduled to start in the spring with three events in South Africa, beginning with the Limpopo Championship on April 25.

The Tour is due to climax in early November with a Grand Final in Spain, featuring the top 45 players from the Challenge Tour.