We knew he was here, but the Frenchman had flown slightly under the radar coming into the week, and that continued until about lunchtime when his name kept ascending the leaderboard. Understandable considering the hotshot local lads who set the tone after getting the better draw in the morning wave.

Min Woo Lee, Jason Day, Cam Smith, Marc Leishman, Cameron Davis, and last week’s Kel Nagle Cup winner, Lucas Herbert, rightfully deserve marquee starters at their home PGA.

The afternoon wave was undoubtedly tougher, but according to Perez it isn’t anything to complain about, especially if you are playing well.

“It’s a lot easier when you’re playing well. These conditions can create a lot of separation, when you’re playing well it doesn’t bother you as much as it does when you are a little bit off your game,” Perez told Golf Australia magazine.

“I felt good with my game, I was hitting the ball nicely.

“I was able to free-flow and play,” Perez added.

Perez isn’t a stranger to playing golf in Australia. He last played tournament golf on these shores in 2017, missing the cut at Royal Pines in this very event.

I don’t think you are sticking your neck out too much in suggesting he will be bettering that display this year. He looked calm and composed all day, even when he encountered trouble on 15 – where he recorded his first blemish on his scorecard – hitting his tee shot into the hazard. He was methodical in going about his work, even when the cards didn’t fall his way.

Today, on the front nine especially, he looked a class above his local playing partners Herbert and Davis. The birdie on the 180-metre par-3 8th was right out of the top drawer. He turned the corner with a routine 32, and the putts continued to drop as he made his way to the clubhouse.

The Edinburgh-based Frenchman made a crucial par save on the par-4 14th after clipping an overhanging tree with his second shot. His third left a 10-footer to save his par, vital in keeping his early momentum rolling.

“When you are playing well those little things don’t bother you.

“I could probably try and hit another 100 shots and never hit that branch again. When you are feeling well and have a good attitude like that you just move on and try to get it up and down,” Perez told media.

Trouble on 15 didn't phase Perez at the Australian PGA Championship. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Perez has consistently performed on the DP World Tour with three wins throughout his career, most recently, the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he stormed home with brilliance and creativity. Need I say more than the bunker shot he hit on 17 that Sunday, one of the best golf shots under the gun in recent memory. Add the fact the tournament was on the line; it shows the calibre of player the Frenchman is.

He showed all his qualities as a fantastic showman at his home Olympics in Paris, hitting the opening tee shot and then rallying valiantly with a closing 63, just 29 of those shots coming on the back-nine of Le Golf National.

There have been great glimpses throughout 2024, but no wins. Something the 32-year-old will be looking to change come Sunday. He is out at 6:10am AEST tomorrow, and the weatherman suggests that, like today, it will be the favourable draw.

“I don’t even want to think about it for now,” Perez quipped about his early tee time.

“Based on what I saw, we should get more of the good draw.

“It’d be nice to come out and put on a good round early and hopefully see the elements happen in the afternoon. But who knows, weather is unpredictable.

“Ill try go out and shoot as low as I can.”