In modern Western Australian golf, names don’t come much bigger than Brett Rumford, a three time winner on the European Tour.

However it’s a name we haven’t heard much of in 2015 due to a scary health setback which saw Rumford having 30 centimetres of his small intestines removed in a South African hospital earlier in the year.

Despite this life threatening medical emergency Rumford teed up in The Open in July where he made the cut then returned home to Perth to rebuild his strength.

In a coup for the TX Civil & Logistics WA PGA Championship, Rumford has made his return to Professional golf in Kalgoorlie.

Playing alongside other famous names of Australasian golf, Peter Lonard and Michael Long, Rumford is enjoying being back on course opening with a 5-under 67 to be tied 7^th after the first round.

"I have been playing the odd round around the traps in Perth, but I haven’t been hitting it full straps," said Rumford.

"Competition is different, championship courses always play a little bit different so it’s nice to come out and put a score on the board."

"They (Long and Lonard) are good guys and fun to play with, they always have been. I think it’s just a relaxed tournament for us guys."

While Rumford is in cruise mode the rising stars of the PGA Tour of Australasia are playing to make a name for themselves with amateur Min Woo Lee as well as young gun Professionals Daniel Nisbet and Antonio Murdaca all placed higher than Rumford on the leaderboard.

"These guys are great players, they turn Pro and they will start to learn the trade professionally. They are big fish in the pond at the moment but it is all stepping stones and learning," added Rumford. 

"It’s a really great training ground for them, to get amongst the thick of it. There is so much mentally that goes on through the learning experience, you have to start somewhere and this is a great week for it."

While it’s sure to be a highlight for the young players on Tour to have a player of Rumford’s calibre in the field, he is equally excited to be surrounded by their youthful exuberance. 

"It’s great to be hanging around that enthusiasm, drive and fresh outlook, just the keen eagerness," added Rumford.

"They are angry and they do get frustrated easily but it’s cool to watch because it’s all just driven from the pure passion and the want to prove themselves amongst their peers, and to themselves."

"It’s great to see, I was there one day and it’s nice to reflect upon it, time flies out here, it is crazy."