Tommy Fleetwood believes last year's stunning victory in Abu Dhabi played a big part in shaping the most successful season of his career so far.
The Englishman saw off the challenge of World Number One Dustin Johnson to claim a one-shot victory at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Fleetwood then went from strength to strength in 2017, recording a second-place finish at the WGC-Mexico Championship before securing the HNA Open de France title on his way to winning the Race to Dubai.
And ahead of launching the defence of his title at this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, the 26 year old said the confidence he gained from last year's win stood him in good stead for the rest of the campaign.
He said: "I won last year and it kind of came out of nowhere. I hadn't done much before over the winter and it was a course where I had not had much success and found myself up there on the last day.
"It just kind of took us all a little bit by surprise, and it was a massive accumulation of so much hard work and coming back and getting my game back together.
"I have so many great memories from that week, and it clearly started a great run for me throughout the year.
"I think I owe a lot to the tournament and the way I played. Dustin Johnson was coming down the stretch, as well last year, but I think it gave me a lot of confidence to move on in the year and then for whatever else I achieved.
"Any time you are in contention on a Sunday, you generally learn something about yourself. It shouldn't matter who you are up against but it kind of does in a way.
"I think in this event and Mexico, even though I didn't win, I had sort of nine holes on that back nine, and especially with about four or five holes to play, all of a sudden I had a chance to win a WGC.
"And I kept going, felt fine, felt confident in myself. Playing this week last year and Mexico again, my best golf stood up against the best players in the world.
"So I think just that, when those sort of moments happen, that's what gives you the confidence. It's all right sort of getting up there and sometimes you can win or get away with it.
"But it's more how you feel inside yourself and it's watching your good golf actually come out after four days and be up there with the best players in the world."
