A MAIDEN European Tour title has excited Eddie Pepperell about a chance to push on this summer – but he insists playing in the majors and even the Ryder Cup are not in his thoughts right now.

The 27-year-old has been relaxing at home in Sutton Courteney since arriving back from victory at the Qatar Masters a week ago.

It was a breakthrough result for Pepperell, who had narrowly missed out on breaking his duck several times since joining the circuit in 2013.

The triumph in the Middle East catapulted the Frilford Heath golfer to 92nd in the world rankings, 12 places behind his career-high three years ago.

But Pepperell now feels in a better position to stay among the game’s elite.

He said: “This time I do think it’s quite different.

“I have a much better understanding about myself and my game.

“I would back myself to push forward from here.”

He is not in action again until the middle of next month, when the Spanish Open marks the start of the shorter-haul events in Europe.

They include the star-studded Rolex Series events, which begin at Wentworth in build-up to The Open.

Pepperell’s top-15 place in the European Tour rankings would get him a place at Carnoustie without the need for qualifying – if he could stay there over the next few months.

But it is not what really fires the Oxfordshire No 1 up for what lies ahead.

He said: “Those events (the majors) I want to play in, of course I do, but I’m not really fussed right now.

“I’m looking forward to the summer and playing in some of the big Rolex Series events.

“I can’t wait to go back to playing links courses again in Scotland and Ireland, plus Wentworth of course.

“I just think this win is a nice thing to happen before a period where I’ve got lots of big tournaments to play in. There’s certainly an opportunity for me to go and do some good things in the summer.

“I’m excited about that, first and foremost.”

His form since last autumn, plus the result in Doha, also put him on the fringes of qualifying for a place on Thomas Bjorn’s European team for the Ryder Cup.

Although Pepperell believes he is capable of reaching Paris in September, it is a long shot at this stage.

“For me to qualify I’d probably need to win two more events and one would have to be a big one,” he said. “I believe I’ve got the game to do that, but obviously it’s going to be difficult.

“It’s not something I particularly care about right now.”