In November, Cullen claimed his first gold jacket ahead of a quality field led by US Masters Champion Adam Scott, and hopes he can start the year off with a win at the Victorian Open Championship from February 5 to 8.

Under the guidance of former Ballarat professional-turned-coach Craig Hanson, Cullen says Ballarat’s famously windy layout has been the “perfect preparation” for conquering 13th Beach, where the Open is held.

“It’s a fairly similar style of course with lots of natural plants,” Cullen said. 

“You’ve got to hit your lines off the tee here otherwise you can find trouble and 13th Beach is just the same.”

At 30 years of age, Cullen was relatively unknown until he sprang into prominence at last year’s Masters, knocking a 30-metre bunker shot to within a foot on the 72nd-hole to edge out Scott and two others for victory.

While he says he is a more confident golfer since pulling on the gold jacket, Cullen still has the odd moment where he can’t believe his success.

“I hadn’t played great that year and missed a lot of cuts by a shot, so to get that win and get over the line against Adam Scott was a great feeling,” he said. “It fills me with a lot of confidence for this year.

“It still hasn’t really sunk in. I still wake up sometimes or look at the jacket and still can’t believe it.”

Cullen’s ultimate goal, like most journeymen professionals, is to make the PGA Tour.

Now basing himself out of Atlanta, Georgia, in the US, and under the tutelage of Hanson, he has the chance to prove himself on the world stage at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August.

“It’s definitely a big goal of mine to play well in that,” he said.

“I’ve got some invitations into other events, but my main goal is to play well in the bigger events.

“There are also tour schools at the end of the year if I can’t do anything between now and then (and) there are qualifiers for Europe, Japan and Web.com tours.”

michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au