“It’s one of those games where one week can change your life,” says Sam Hutsby.

For the 25-year-old Hampshire golf ace, that turning point might just have arrived.

Hutsby last month claimed his first ever Challenge Tour title, with a stunning win in the Kazakhstan Open.

It was a victory that ensured he will return to the European Tour next season for the first time since 2012.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Hutsby, who has also won a place at this week’s prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. “I still don’t think it’s quite sunk in.

“It’s been such an up-and-down journey as a professional.”

It is five years now since the former British number-one amateur turned pro, following the 2009 Walker Cup.

Hutsby burst onto the scene with some impressive early results, before earning a first European Tour card at qualifying school later that year.

He suffered a cruel blow in his first season on the elite circuit, though, missing out on retaining his playing rights by one place on the order of merit.

After a year on the Challenge Tour in 2011, he finished second at qualifying school to regain a place among the best, but Hutsby would lose his card again after a tough campaign.

Since then, it has been a long and, at times, difficult road back – but Hutsby believes every single step has been worth it.

“Challenge Tour is an extremely tough tour to come off of, and it’s definitely been a fantastic learning curve,” said the Liphook player.

“It’s a fantastic way to learn what’s needed and the lifestyle required. The whole thing just makes you much mentally tougher.”

However, while it might be a great breeding ground, the landscape of the Challenge Tour can be a barren one for many.

“It’s an extremely competitive tour, and the prize money is not as good as the European Tour,” said Hutsby.

“Last season, I made a total loss at the end of the year.

“It’s a unique sport. If you fail, you literally don’t get a pay cheque, which is tough – especially when the expenses are so extreme.”

The reality of that hits home when you hear Hutsby speak about his relief at things such as being able to buy his family some nice Christmas presents this year.

Matters have been made tougher too, given that for the last 24 months he has also been without a sponsor, although crucially he has retained the backing of TaylorMade, who he describes as his “biggest supporter”.

“It’s a massive difference when you’re going out and playing for the fun of it, and not thinking about needing to win money to pay for your apartment,” said Hutsby.

“But it toughens you up as an individual and as a golfer.

“They’ve definitely chosen a good name for the tour – challenge.”

Hutsby overcame the one he was faced with himself after a series of fine results, capped by the win in Kazakhstan.

“I felt I was hitting the ball quite well this year,” said Hutsby, who puts part of his improvement down to investing in one of TaylorMade’s TrackMan systems so he can monitor his own swing.

“I worked on my swing quite hard, and you just need one good week to get you going sometimes and get your confidence up.

“I had a seventh in Austria (at the Karnten Golf Open), with three good last rounds, and that gave me confidence.”

He followed that with a second place in the Slovakia Challenge, a fourth in the Russian Open – a European Tour event – and a top-five in the Rolex Trophy.

“I knew if I kept doing the right things that I had the talent, and hopefully that will shine through,” said Hutsby, who finally saw everything come together in Kazakhstan.

“It was just a fantastic week. It was probably the longest and hardest weekend I’ve ever had in my career, and it was quite some feeling coming down 18 knowing I had finally done what I had always dreamed of.”

Now the next challenge is to take that form onto the main tour.

“I’m going to work extremely hard this winter to get myself ready,” he said.

“I can’t wait to get out there.”