EDDIE Pepperell plans to play twice at Frilford Heath this weekend to sharpen up ahead of the US PGA Championships.

The Abingdon golfer has not played competitively since finishing in a share of 49th place in The Open at St Andrews, preferring to rest ahead of his second Major appearance of the year.

Pepperell, ranked 88 in the world, is happy with the state of his game, but is looking to get several rounds under his belt, both locally and once he arrives in the USA.

He said: “It’s three or four weeks since I teed up in a competition so I’ve been playing quite a lot.

“I will play plenty of times out there leading up to the event.

“I feel my game is in a really good shape, so I don’t want to over-practise – it’s been more about playing and getting used to the feel of making birdies."

“There’s a chance that come Thursday I might be a little bit rusty, but it’s up to me to prepare well.”

Pepperell has never played at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, before, but his research and memories of Martin Kaymer’s victory five years ago have fired up his imagination.

“I’ve only seen a few pictures online and I remember a couple of the finishing holes from when it hosted the tournament in 2010," he said. “It looks spectacular and it will be a major test, for sure.”