Former champions Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell are relishing the familiar environs for this week's $2.02 million Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth as both ease their way into the new golf season.

Goosen and Campbell are among the headline acts for this year's co-sanctioned event at The Vines, which features five of the world's top 15 players.

Joining them will be local hope Adam Scott, who is aiming to become the first player to defend the title, reigning European Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and former US Masters champion Fred Couples.

Goosen admitted his swing was "still on holidays" after he packed his clubs away for six weeks prior to last week's sixth-place finish in Dubai.

Campbell has had a similar time away from the game, playing one "horrendous" round with friends over the past month while he moved house back in New Zealand and renewed his wedding vows with wife Julie.

Hardly the ideal preparation, but it has both fit and refreshed and ready for a course and a city they love.

Campbell has strong links to Western Australia, winning the now-defunct Heineken Classic at Perth's Lake Karrinyup in 2000 and 2001.

He also won the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic when it was held in Taiwan.

Goosen took a record 13-stroke lead into the final round of the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic at Lake Karrinyup before winning by eight shots and also featured in the 2000 Heineken at The Vines.

Two-time US Open winner Goosen said his time without golf was the longest period of his life, but it was the type of break he needed to refresh mentally for the new season.

"It was the first time in my life that I didn't for six weeks touch a club," the South African said.

"For the first five weeks, the clubs were packed away in the cupboard.

"Then I played two rounds of golf before I came out.

"The swing is on a holiday still, but at least the mind is refreshed."

Reigning US Open champion Campbell has fond memories of The Vines, although previous events at the resort have been played as a composite of the Lakes and Ellenbrook courses.

This year all 18 holes of the Lakes are being used.

"Winning twice before it's obviously a golf course I really understand and do well in, apart from I believe the first nine holes," he said.

"Besides that, the last nine holes is one of the finest nine holes in Australian golf, especially the last three."

Goosen returned from his break to shoot rounds of 64, 67, 70 and 71 at last week's Desert Dubai Classic and feels his game is slowly coming together.

"After a six-week break, it was nice to come back and have a decent tournament," he said.

"I was a bit disappointed, really, on the last couple of rounds. I didn't play well.

"I played really well the first couple of rounds and then the last two rounds, the holiday kicked in."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP