Berry Henson has to make a rare trip back to the Final Stage of the Asian Tour’s Qualifying School in Thailand this week – but the experienced golfer says he is up for the challenge.

At last week’s season-ending Saudi Open presented by PIF the American had a chance to finish inside the top 65 on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit, which secures cards for next year. However, he ended in a tie for 22^nd, which saw him finish the year 88^th.

In the 14 years he has played on the Tour he has been one of its most consistent performers and only had to go back to the School last year and in 2016. He coasted through when he played it for the first time in 2011, tying for 12^th.

“It’s fine,” said the American. “I don’t know, it doesn’t bother me that much. Quite honestly, I feel like it’s a challenge. I mean, I know my game’s good enough to get through Q school, I know my game’s good enough to win again.

“I don’t really feel any added pressure or uncomfortability, it’s just the process. I mean, Richard Bland had to do it when in his 40s, and look at what he’s doing now.”

The 46-year-old’s confidence is helped by the fact that the School is being played at Lake View Resort & Golf Club, in the tranquil coastal town of Hua Hin.

For many years Henson has made a second home there, using it as a base for when he is touring the region.

Henson pictured on his way to joint second place in Oman in 2023. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He added: “I’m playing in Hua Hin, it’s home territory, so if I’m able to get momentum and play some smart golf, it shouldn’t be that difficult for me next week or next year.”

He’ll also be able to hop on his motorcycle to get to the course, as he lives at Black Mountain Golf Club, which is just 20 minutes away.

“Yeah, motorbike to the course and, yeah, it’ll be a home week. It’ll be super comfortable. I mean, it’s just like playing a tournament at Black Mountain. It’s just a little longer commute for me on the motorbike.”

In 2011, Henson arrived in Asia with limited funds and won the First Stage of the Qualifying School. After successfully negotiating the Final Stage he claimed the Clearwater Masters on the Asian Development Tour five weeks later and two weeks after that he won the ICTSI Philippine Open. Both victories were wire-to-wire.

That victory remains he sole win on the main tour, although he has come close to adding to it – particularly at the International Series Oman in 2023 when he tied for second. He was also joint runner-up in the 2018 Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

He says he is relying on his short game at the moment and needs to clean up other areas, including the contact he is making with his irons.

“Off the tee just hasn’t been the standard that I’m used to; then the wedges haven’t been the standard that I’m used to; and then putting hasn’t been the standard that I’m used to – but I’m chipping good,” he explains.

“I’m using course management really good, and I’m playing with what I have. So, it’s just, you know, this year, what I have hasn’t been that competitive.”

He starts on Wednesday at 12.26 with South African Justin Harding and China’s Yang Kuang.