It was noticeable as he went about his work on day one of his second Australian Open in Melbourne. He is playing with a type of charisma and class that is hard to come by, especially for someone still firmly in the infancy of a professional career. To back up that claim, he told Golf Australia magazine that he loves the big tournaments and rubbing shoulders with some of the finest players in the world. It is where he wants to be and where he thinks he belongs.

The 23-year-old signed for a two-under-par 70 at Kingston Heath, which played as the tougher of the two Sandbelt layouts on Thursday to continue his premier form to start the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

The morning wave at Kingston Heath was on an uncharacteristically soft golf course, but it was still no walk in the park. "Chops", as he is affectionately known, looked excellent with his irons, and his touch on the back nine was delicate. If he can sort out the misbehaving driver before he tackles Victoria in the morning, he could make a serious move as the weekend beckons.

"Driver wasn't good," Lamb laughs.

"I hit it in a few bad spots and made a double in a few bogeys early.

"I wasn't driving great, so I just went back to the fairway finder and then rolled in a few puts on the back nine."

He is six back of the fast-starting Lucas Herbert (eight-under), the LIV Golf star filled his boots at an equally soft Victoria GC and looked like a player with complete belief in his game and who had recently tasted victory.

In the NSW Open at Murray Downs two weeks ago, where Herbert hoisted the Kel Nagle Cup, Lamb was in the final group with 2022 Open Champion Cam Smith.

Lamb finished in a tie for second, as he did a fortnight prior at the Webex Players Series South Australia, but says that being in moments like those is where he wants to be regularly.

Lamb relishes the big moments, including playing with superstar Cam Smith. PHOTO: NSW Golf.

"After the New South Wales Open, it's definitely given me a different outlook on where I want to be," Lamb said.

"Playing with Cam is where I want to be; it's so good.

He didn't get a host of sleep before the most significant moment of his career to date on the Murray, not because of nerves or anxiety but because of excitement.

"Not much sleep," Lamb informs Golf Australia magazine.

"You just have to get your mind off things and not think about them because the more you think about them, the harder they get.

"I was excited. I wasn't really nervous too much.

"It was good to not be too nervous because it means I should have belonged there."

Regardless of how this week unfolds for Lamb, his start to the season has him primed as one of the early chances to clip his ticket to the DP World Tour. Lamb knows there is still a lot of work to be done before then. It was always a goal, and the goals he set at the start of the year have had to be adjusted as he hit form at the right time.

"After the New South Wales Open, it's definitely given me a different outlook on where I want to be." – Corey Lamb.  

"I was thinking about going to Asia, depending on how the start of the season went.

"I said to myself, If I start well, I'll stay here because of the three DP spots for the top Order of Merit [finishers].

"But if not, I was going to go over to Asia and try and get on over there. I'll stay here this year.

"I wasn't expecting to get off this to this good of a start, but I'm keen for the rest of the events.

It isn't a matter of if but when from the Hunter Valley-based pro. He is clearly made of all the right stuff to succeed at the highest level. Not once did he look out of place playing with Cam Smith, and he definitely didn't during his opening round on one of the most iconic layouts in the country in his national open.

Tomorrow will be a different test for Chops, but he has relished everything thrown his way this season. The challenge Victoria GC poses seems to be another one he is more than ready to combat.