Top Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox has revealed his mental struggles and the strict testing protocols that are now part of daily life for elite sportspeople.
Fox has just spent the last six weeks playing on the European Tour, where a golfing bubble with no crowds has become his new normal.
He hopes a short break will reinvigorate him, heading into his biggest week of the year at the US Open.
With four top-20 finishes in six tournaments, the return to competition has been good for Fox, but it's also come at a cost, with a hectic schedule of 35 rounds in the past six weeks starting to take its toll.
"It's been mentally and physically pretty tiring," Fox tells Newshub.
The European Tour's bubble system is anything but relaxed.
"The bubble system we have over here is a bit tough mentally," he adds.
"We're temperature checked everyday. We get a test every week, we're not allowed out of the bubble.
"If anyone's showing signs of any symptoms, they get retested."
That kind of routine has left Fox battling to focus when it matters most - in the final round of tournaments.
Add to that picture what's happening away from the course, namely the places he can't go when he's on tour.
"You drive past all the pubs and stuff, and they're busy as. Everyone's just getting on with it."
But the strict protocols come with some perks. Fox won't need to quarantine when he heads to the US Open later this month.
"I know my game's in a decent place for that event, so hopefully, this is the year I can put it all together."
He's now on a well earned week off and is making the most of it
"It was nice to have a little bit of normality and a home-cooked meal for the first time in six weeks," he laughs.
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