West Australian Brett Rumford was a two-time winner on the European Tour in 2013. This week he returns home to headline the $2 million Perth International and add to the trophy cabinet with a victory on home soil.

"That's such a tough question," laughs Brett Rumford, when asked whether he was feeling at his peak.

Approaching six years without a European Tour win, it was irony that paired the West Australian with compatriot Marcus Fraser in the Ballantines Championship three-way play-off.

Eagling the play-off hole to seal victory, in repeating the feat eight days later at the Volvo China Open, Rumford became the first Aussie in 41 years to win back-to-back European titles.

Brett Rumford celebrates after holing hs eagle putt at the first play-off hole to win the play-off ad. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Four months on, ‘Rummy’, as he is known on Tour, is nestled safely within the confines of the Race to Dubai Top-10, guaranteeing him a strong welcome this week at the ISPS Handa Perth International, the richest event on the Australasian PGA Tour calendar.

"It's nice to be seen in such a light," says Rumford, who prefers to focus on how the younger generation can benefit from Australia's golden era of golf, rather than basking in adulation.

And it is a point well made, as a stones throw away from Lake Karrinyup Country Club, the tournament host, lies Karrinyup Primary School.

In years gone by the sight of mud-stained youngsters darting across the grass with a ball in hand left a sour taste in golf's by-standing mouth.

But with a host of golfing superstars playing over the fence in the richest golf tournament in Australia, the game no longer lives behind silver screens.

"It's important for certain structures to be in place that allow young players to take inspiration and take up the game," says Rumford, who started playing the game aged ten. "That's why events such as the Perth International are crucial, so that youngsters can see great golf in the flesh rather than on TV."

On most occasions however, TV is the best source to watch golf in Australia.

It began overnight on social media, hours before messrs Scott, Day and Leishman teed off among the top five in pursuit of that elusive green jacket.

As the final day commenced at Augusta, Australian fans trended #itsourtime, with the affable Scott ending 73 years of hurt for the country, securing his first major in the process.

Drawing inspiration from Scott's triumph in the season’s first major, Rumford followed suit, becoming the first Australian to win on the European Tour in two years, a tactic he encourages fellow Aussies to follow.

'Rummy' poses with the Ballantine's Championship trophy. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

"It was fantastic," Rumford recalls. "Scotty is such a great guy, and the thing I was most impressed by was the fact that following that win he is unchanged as person.

"He’s still the most pleasant, most approachable guy out there, he stands for everything I believe in and makes you proud to be part of a great nation.

"Other guys have also had good seasons, Marcus Fraser seems to have been at the top of the game for a long time, Wade Ormsby has had a good season and it does encourage you to join in."

With a strong history of hosting successful international golf events, notably the Heineken Classic and Johnnie Walker Classic, Australia's finest, along with the world's best, will compete for the US$2million prize pool come October 17.

But while winning such a tournament in front of a home crowd sits highly among Rumford's wishes, hailing from Perth, a simple return to his boyhood city provides similar satisfaction.

Shared by wife Stacey and young girl twins, the Rumford residence is now on the other side of the world, in Ascot, England, meaning a chance to catch up is much welcomed for a travelling Tour professional.

"It's great to be in front of a home crowd and I hope I can deliver a good result that week," says Rumford, who admits juggling life on Tour with life back home can be arduous at times.

"My wife has always been incredibly supportive – she is a fantastic mother and never puts me under any pressure.

"You do go through long spells without seeing that much of the family, which is tough but with modern technology it is much easier to see what the three of them are up to."

Having not won since the 2007 Omega European Masters, Rumford casts his mind back to a strange sensation, a sensation that overcame his game during the final round of the Ballantines Championship.

Starting his final round in sizzling manner with six birdies in his opening nine holes, including four in succession from the sixth hole, Rumford had held his nerve for the best part of two hours before the tournament went to a sudden-death play-off.

But by this time, the muscles were tightening up and the body was feeling stiff.

After missing a couple of drives to the right on 17, the resulting double bogey followed by a par-saving up and down at the last left Rumford thinking he’d blown his shot at glory.

"I believed I had missed my chance as Peter Whiteford was in the middle of the 18th fairway in the group behind me," Rumford remembers. "But when I realised I had a chance to be in the playoff, I quickly spoke to my coach Pete Cowen and he gave me a swing thought which immediately gave me a lot more confidence in my swing.

"Because of that I actually entered that playoff hole in better mental shape than I perhaps had been for the previous few holes."

Then, having seen his opponents fail to reach the green in two, he fired an approach to within four feet, made the putt and picked up the cheque. Simple really.

"I knew I had hit a great shot, but you also quickly realise it counts for nothing if you don’t knock it in," said Rumford, who has been a European Tour member since 2001. "The adrenalin was pumping after that.

“When I took a couple of practice strokes I could feel my heart racing so the first thing I did was concentrate on my breathing to try and get my heart rate down before addressing the ball.

"Looking back now, making the 12 footer on the 72nd hole to make par, and give myself that second chance was equally important and certainly the more difficult of the two putts."

While adrenalin is rarely a useful emotion in golf, momentum is a tool that can convert an otherwise quiet season into a stellar year.

Rumford plays from the bunker at the 18th hole during the Volvo China Open. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

A commanding final round of 68 at Binhai Lake Golf Club in China a week later saw Rumford finish 16-under par, a clear four shots ahead of his closest rivals.

The winner's cheque of £345,000 took his earnings to over £650,000, for two weeks' work, and to the top of the Race to Dubai.

Not forgetting the rise from 253rd in the world to a career-high place inside the top 80, to say Rumford was cooking on gas wouldn't be too far from the truth.

"Having missed my lunch on Saturday, that afternoon I was more running on fumes," Rumford laughs. "Luckily my short game that week was firing on all cylinders and I made a number of good saves on Saturday keeping me in the mix for Sunday.

"It was obviously a more comfortable win but in some ways it wasn’t that dissimilar.

"I had a great run in the middle of the final round and very quickly found myself a few shots in the lead.”

At that stage Rumford acknowledged an almost instinct like desire to be a little defensive to try to protect his lead, rather than attack.

"That isn’t always easy but I kept the ball in play and knew steady pars would see me home,” he recalls.

Celebrating in a traditional Chinese robe, while not quite the Green Jacket that befits his compatriot Scott, Rumford's doubler carries greater significance than silk garments and silver trophies can ever replicate.

"Not having not won for a few years reignites the self belief that is critical to performing at the highest level," he says.

But did it fuel his appetite? Absolutely not.

"I never lost the desire to win," he says. "Having won a number of times previously you know you can do it but sometimes you just need that belief to go and deliver."

The talk with Cowen, a world renowned and respected coach who also classes major wonders Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer as students, propelled Rumford to a different level in his minute of need at in South Korea.

Cowen’s advice was instrumental for Rumford, who believes his coach’s swing thoughts have enlightened his game.

But it goes much deeper than a top-quality coach. Not forgetting the contribution of physical coach Kevin Duffy, Rumford classes the Englishman as a huge influence, in terms of fitness, preparation and nutrition.

And while any victory is special, living long in the memory, adhering to the logical steps of progression, many would presume Rumford's will be firmly on one of golf’s premier competitions.

Hosting 46 tournaments across 25 countries, after the conclusion of the Perth International, The Race to Dubai will be converted to a points table with €1 equalling one point, allowing for a 20 percent “points” bonus to any player who plays all the first three events of ‘The Final Series’.

Rumford’s a surefire contender, but will he have you believe it? Not a chance.

"I think if you start looking that far ahead you will quickly come undone," he says, once again adopting a respectful silence, an attribute which has made him a well-liked guy on Tour. “I am still in the Top 10, so if can play myself into a few of the bigger tournaments I will have a chance yes.

"But the reality is the guys at the very top of the rankings compete and win in majors and WGC’s so that is what I need to focus on now."

Results wise, Rumford is enjoying his best ever year on Tour. But looking past the Australian summer of golf and into 2014, his aim is clear.

Winning is one thing, to keep winning is a different ball game entirely.

"My goal now is to now build consistency," he says. "I have shown if I put myself in the mix I can win tournaments so I would like to see myself in the Top-10 more often come Sunday morning.

"After my two wins my form has certainly dipped a little but I don’t feel as if my game is in bad shape."

Currently working on a couple of swing thoughts to try and rediscover the consistency and confidence he had during those two weeks in Asia, hopes of breaking into the Top-50 of the world ranking, albeit dampened ones, can't help escape Rumford's mind.

"That’s certainly the first goal but you can’t really look beyond the next tournament, you have to build week on week," he adds. "But there isn’t a magic switch that allows you just to turn up, roll some putts in and simply break into that category it’s a series of good results and the consistency."

Having played in the Volvo World Match Play, The Open, a World Golf Championship and the US PGA Championship, Rumford realises that is where he wants to be.

And many will feel the quiet guy from Perth is one more hot-streak away from turning such dreams into permanent realities.

TICKETS

General admission tickets start from $44 for an adult day pass. Daily concession tickets are $34. Season passes – covering all four competition days – are $159 ($119 concession), while weekend passes are $79 each for an adult and $69 concession.

TV COVERAGE

The Seven Network will televise five and a half hours of the Perth International live daily on its 7 Two channel. Check local guides for broadcast times.