THE reality of life as a European Tour player will sink in for Jordan Smith tomorrow morning as he tees off in the Australian PGA Championship - the first event of the 2017 season.

Derry Hill ace Smith is due to play in the first group out at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on Queensland’s Gold Coast alongside Australian Richard Green and New Zealander Ryan Fox as the next chapter of his career got under way.

The 24-year-old, from the Bowood club, earned his playing rights at European golf’s top table by winning the second-tier Challenge Tour’s Road To Oman standings - just 12 months after a similar triumph on the EuroPro Tour.

The Wiltshire man will play this week’s event in Australia and next week’s UBS Hong Kong Open prior to Christmas before his maiden European Tour campaign really swings into action after Christmas.

As if to underline his new heady surroundings, among those teeing off with Smith on the Gold Coast this week are former Masters champion Adam Scott, European Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter and former US PGA winner YE Yang, of South Korea.

Smith honed his preparations for the new campaign with a warm-weather training stint in Dubai with coach and Bowood teaching pro Simon Shanks to get him in tip-top shape for the challenges ahead.

“The Challenge Tour has definitely prepared me for next season,” he said.

“Travelling inside and outside of Europe and living out of a suitcase is something that has taken some getting used to, but I feel ready for next year.

“I’d like to think that I will be able to go out and compete on the European Tour next year, and hopefully win (some events).

“It just needs to be more of the same really. I know I can go out there and compete and I’m looking forward to getting going.’’

Joining Smith in Queensland this week is another Wiltshire player, Ben Stow, from East Knoyle near Warminster.