Graeme McDowell returns to a happy hunting ground this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open and is hopeful that familiar surroundings can inspire him to a first European Tour win of the season.
The 36 year old finished in a tie for ninth at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February and is without a top ten since, but has shown encouraging signs since missing the cut at the US PGA Championship in August.
He returned to action at the Porsche European Open and then went under par in 11 consecutive rounds before a back nine of 41 at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports saw him fall to a tie of 30th after being in contention at the turn.
And while Hong Kong Golf Club may be a long way from his native Northern Ireland, McDowell, who has finished in the top 20 on all four of his previous appearances here, is feeling comfortable in Fanling.
"I think I'm really close," he said. "I've been hitting it much better the last few months. Sort of there or thereabouts at the Dunhill Links, there or thereabouts the British Masters. Just some bad back nines on Sundays.
"I feel like I'm really close. It has not been the kind of year I'd hoped for but that's the game of golf. You've got to take the rough with the smooth. Got to keep working and keep trying.
"So I feel like sort of turning the corner and the motivation, the confidence is coming back to me, and looking forward to being on leaderboards very soon.
"I had 11 rounds under par in a row since coming back to The European Tour. I think that helps with the confidence, familiar players and familiar venues, and just feeling comfortable.
"So it's been great. It's sort of what I needed I suppose from a mental point of view is just to kind of see some low numbers, and feel good about what I'm doing.
Here in Hong Kong this week, a golf course I feel like at Fanling where I can compete, and would really love to be in contention going into the weekend here - Graeme McDowell
World Number Eight Dustin Johnson and World Number 20 Patrick Reed are both in action this week, familiar faces to McDowell who has split his time evenly between Europe and America since his 2010 US Open Championship win.
The duo are making their debuts in the event and McDowell is hopeful that his knowledge of the layout can give him an advantage.
"I think when you're playing both sides of the Atlantic and trying to keep both cards, you end up cherry-picking the best events all the time, and the best events sometimes mean the toughest events," he said.
"You're playing tough golf courses against the best fields, and if you're not on your game, you can get beat up pretty quickly.
"So it's nice to come to a golf course here at Hong Kong Golf Club. It's more strategic, a little bit more of a thinking man's golf course. Got to put it in the fairway and you've got to grind. I've competed at this tournament in the past and I'd love to give it a rip this weekend and be there or thereabouts."
