Tom Lehman begins his defence of the MCB Tour Championship on Friday hoping to make another fast start at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
The former United States Ryder Cup Captain opened with a seven under par 65 last year and backed it up with a 68 to take two shot lead over David Frost into the final round.
He hung on under pressure from South African Frost, closing with a one under par 71 to finish one shot clear and the 1996 Open Champion is targeting another strong start this year.
“A lot of times you can win a tournament in the first couple of rounds and that is what I did that last year,” he said.
“The final round was a war of attrition. Neither of us played that spectacularly. The turning point was at the end when I birdied the 16thhole to give me a two shot lead. From that point on I was hanging on.”
Lehman has enjoyed another fine year in 2012, clinching the Charles Schwab Cup on the US Champions Tour after winning the end of season Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
He is now looking to sign off the season by winning the final event of 2012 on the European Senior Tour in Mauritius.
“I played a lot of golf in 2011 and so 2012 was a slow start for me the in the summer I played really well and had some chances to win without getting the Holy Grail,” he said. “I needed to win that final event to catch Bernhard Langer in the Charles Schwab Cup and it was fantastic to do that in my home town.
“It would be a nice double to win the final event on the Senior Tour. I’m hoping to put in on the fairway, put it on the green and make a few putts.”
“This is a great place and a great island,” he added. “The hotel is one of the best I have stayed in. It’s phenomenal. It is also a great golf course. I was more than impressed with the quality of the golf course last year and coming back this year it is even better.
“I like the angles the course gives you. It looks like there is no room but when you get out there you find there is plenty, so you need to pick the right club off the tee. I think it is a very clever golf course.”
