Recharged Hughes ready for back-to-back events at Muirfield Village

The week following each of his two top-three finishes this year, Mackenzie Hughes took a break.

The first occasion - after his solo-second result at the Honda Classic - was circumstantial. At the time, he did not qualify for the subsequent Arnold Palmer Invitational, then the coronavirus pandemic shut down the PGA Tour for three months.

But skipping last week's Rocket Mortgage Classic after his sensational run at the Travelers Championship - where he drained two miraculous birdie putts on his final two holes to finish in a tie for third - was by choice. Rather than trying to catch lightning in a bottle for a second consecutive week, Hughes kicked his feet up knowing there's still plenty of golf to be played this season.

"It was nice to go into a week off with some good, positive vibes," Hughes told theScore. "I wasn't going to alter my schedule just because I was playing well."

Instead of teeing it up in Detroit, Hughes headed to his in-law's cottage to celebrate both Canada Day and Independence Day, along with the exciting news that he and his wife, Jenna, are expecting their second baby boy in the near future.

"(The) break was really nice knowing that I could relax and not think about golf for a while. It was especially nice after a week like that (at the Travelers)."

Not only did his finish at the Travelers secure his PGA Tour card for next season, but it vaulted the 29-year-old inside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in his career. While it's a notable milestone, he's far from content.

"The goal is to be top 50," he said, which would give the Canadian exemptions into all the majors and World Golf Championships. "That's huge."

Now recharged, Hughes heads to Muirfield Village Golf Club full of "confidence and momentum" for two consecutive weeks at a layout designed by Jack Nicklaus. The Workday Charity Open is up first with the Memorial Tournament, which is hosted by Nicklaus, the following week.

"I love the golf course," Hughes raved. "The conditioning of the course is unbelievable. You could take naps in the fairways they are so pristine ... The club itself has a lot of cool history and the fact that Jack's name is attached to it is going to make these next two weeks pretty fun."

Hughes admitted playing back-to-back tournaments at the same venue will be "unusual," but said it should benefit those playing the Workday Charity Open over those who aren't by the time the Memorial rolls around. That will also help improve upon his career-best 45th finish at the Memorial from 2017.

"By next week (Muirfield) will feel like our home course," he said.

But the tough course and star-studded fields expected at Muirfield might not be Hughes' greatest challenge over the next two weeks. Rather, somehow resisting the temptation of the course's famous milkshakes may prove to be a bigger test.

"They are phenomenal," Hughes said. "But you have to pace yourself. You can't get in there on Monday and start having a milkshake because then you are going to want one every day and be walking out of here 10 pounds heavier.

"We'll be here for a while so I'm going to try and spread them out. But they are phenomenal and if they are making them, I will definitely be in line to get one."

If Hughes can turn in another incredible week - or maybe two - at Muirfield Village and climb further up the world ranking, those milkshakes will taste even sweeter.