One-time major winner Jason Dufner is stepping into the unknown, and he’s hoping it will be a pain-free experience.

Dufner hasn’t played a competitive golf tournament since pulling out midway through the US PGA Championship in August due to two bulging discs in his neck.

The world No.32 spent the next six weeks letting the injury heal, before slowly getting back into the swing of things.

Dufner will make his competitive return this week when he lines up at the $1.75 million Perth International, starting at Lake Karrinyup on Thursday.

The 37-year-old hasn’t set any lofty goals for the co-sanctioned European Tour event, but he is hoping for one thing.

“Right now it would just be nice to be able to play 18 holes without any pain. I haven’t done that in a while,” said Dufner, who was the toast of the golf world when he won the 2013 US PGA Championship.

“It was disappointing that I was injured, but it wasn’t miserable for me. I wasn’t dying at home.

“I got to experience some new things.

“I got to spend some time with my wife and friends. I got to enjoy college football, which I like a lot, and I also got into cooking.”

Dufner said he had been dealing with his shoulder and neck problems for the best part of the previous four years before it got to a point where he could no longer continue.

The American said there were no guarantees the injury wouldn’t flare up again.

“I had issues with muscle tightness, which entrapped the nerves coming out of my neck, which gave me kind of a dead arm,” Dufner said.

“But I am feeling better, so I’m going in the right direction.”

If everything goes well in Perth, Dufner hopes to play in Malaysia, China and Thailand over the coming weeks in a bid to ramp up his preparations for next year.

Dufner finished second behind countryman Bo van Pelt at the inaugural Perth International two years ago.

This year’s field is much stronger, with rising star Victor Dubuisson joining major winners Charl Schwartzel, Geoff Ogilvy and Dufner.