Steph Kyriacou is hoping a return to her beloved links golf will be the catalyst for an overdue turnaround after a 2026 season from hell.
Kyriacou is one of nine Australians teeing it up at this week's $US10 million ($14.4 million) British Open, women's golf's fifth and final major of the year at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
The Sydney talent returns to major action after missing the Evian Championship and LPGA Championship, and failing to make the halfway cut in eight of her past nine LPGA Tour starts.
A runner-up at the 2024 Evian Championship, Kyriacou's woes began almost out of nowhere at the Australian Open in February.
A winner three starts earlier at the Webex Players Series Sydney, Kyriacou developed somewhat of the driving yips and hit two balls out of bounds en route to a quadruple nine at Kooyonga and has struggled to recover since.
The two-time Ladies European Tour winner could routinely knock them down the middle on the range before returning to her wayward ways off the tee during tournament rounds.
But Kyriacou insists she is back in a good head space after more than a month's R & R to tackle her demons.
"Yeah, a tough year so far but had a bit of time off to recharge and figure some things out," she told AAP ahead of Thursday's first round.
"My game and mentals are feeling good. I'm sure there will be a few nerves but that's all part of it - I haven't played for five weeks so I'm excited to get going.
"I'm trying to go into this week with a new perspective. I love playing links golf. I think I have to be more creative and that helps me get out of my own way a bit."
A member of St Michael's in Sydney, Kyriacou grew up honing her game on the windswept links layout, with those experiences coming to the fore when she briefly led during the first round of her Open debut at Royal Troon in 2020.
Kyracou has since posted two top-10 Open finishes, a tie for seventh in 2020 and a tie for eighth last year, as well as an equal 13th in 2021.
The 25-year-old is feeling good about delivering another strong showing at the bunker-filled Royal Lytham, the famed Lancashire layout where countryman Adam Scott looked set to win the 2012 Open before relinquishing a four-shot lead with four holes to play.
"The course is looking great. It's definitely demanding off the tee with all the fairway bunkers," Kyriacou said.
"It's just a strong golf course. You won't get away with many bad shots here, especially with the wind up.
"If you miss all the bunkers, you're definitely one up on the field."
The other eight Australians in the 144-field are major winners Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Grace Kim, along with Cassie Porter, Karis Davidson, Robyn Choi, Kelsey Bennett and rising star Justice Bosio on her major championship debut.
