EDDIE Pepperell plans to use the rest of this season to get ready for 2021 after playing his way back into form.

The golfer from Abingdon had endured a frustrating year, which was interrupted by lockdown.

But he bounced back with top-ten finishes at the Scottish Open and Wentworth, before finishing in a tie for 16th at the Scottish Championship.

With the first two results coming in the lucrative Rolex Series, it catapulted the 29-year-old up to 50th in the European Tour rankings.

The top 60 qualify for the season-ending DP World Championship in Dubai, but Pepperell is sitting out the next four events.

While he is hoping to play in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at the end of November, it will depend on Covid restrictions for travelling to South Africa.

It risks slipping out of contention to play in Dubai, although there are suggestions an extra event could be put on in the UAE a week earlier.

But Pepperell is laid back about the situation after finding his rhythm, with the focus now more on next year.

He said: “I’m not going to chase anything.

“It’s using the end of the year as preparation for next year.

“It’s making sure there’s enough golf and travel in the system so when we come to January start heading to the Middle East again, I’m prepared.”

Despite the results leading up to the Scottish Open, the Frilford Heath member felt confident he was moving in the right direction.

But the strong results did not mean everything was smooth – and there were times when playing the events behind closed doors was a definite bonus.

“As those weeks carried on I felt I played better golf,” he said.

“It was nice to be doing that, rather than the stupid stuff leading up to it.

“I knew I was particularly rusty in a couple of areas that could be fixed in tournament golf.

“I still hit a shank at the Scottish Open and Wentworth.

“It was revealing how far I had fallen technically and some of the habits that had crept in.

“The first shot I had at Wentworth was horrendous as well – I hit the starter’s hut on the other course it was so far left.

“If crowds had been in there would have been some ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’.

“I think Wentworth turned a corner really in a number of key areas in my game.

“It would have happened earlier if it had been a normal year.

“My seasons often come like that, I fix something and have a good run.”