Karrie Webb hasn’t hit a golf ball in competitive anger for several weeks but the eight-time Australian Ladies Masters champion believes that may be just what she needed.

Webb admits she was caught cold by a disappointing finish to 2013 after starting the year strongly.

Aside from her Ladies Masters triumph, Webb also won the LPGA Classic in New Jersey and the Ladies European Masters in a solid 12 months.

But after the European Masters win things came to a shuddering halt for Webb when she missed the cut at the British Open, an event the 39-year-old admits she struggled to move past.

“I didn’t finish the year off as well as I would’ve wanted to and I don’t really have any reasons why,” Webb said.

“I missed the cut at the British Open which was a big shock to the system because I had just won the week before.

“Generally when I miss a cut I know it’s coming but I wasn’t expecting that one … probably just stopped the momentum a little bit.”

Webb believes as she nears 40 taking time out from the game is important too, so a long break with family in her north Queensland hometown of Ayr in January has been the best preparation for the year ahead.

Not even last week’s cyclone hampered her preparations for this week’s Ladies Masters, where she’s aiming to claim an unprecedented ninth crown.

“It’s just too long of a year starting tournament golf in the middle of January,” Webb said.

“I was working fairly hard up in north Queensland … I took a bit of time off in December but I’ve always done it, it’s not something that’s new.

“I’ve always had to decompress after the season and get away from it all.”