Louis Oosthuizen put his confident first round display at The Open Championship down to his maiden European Tour win earlier in the year.
The South African has missed the cut in his three previous Open Championship appearances, but that run looks set to end at St Andrews after the 27 year old opened with a seven under par 65 - two shots behind early pacesetter Rory McIlroy.
And Oosthuizen put his improved display down to his success at the Open de Andalucia de Golf in March, where he raced to a three stroke victory.
"It was really a matter of getting my confidence up," he said. "I came close to winning a few times on The European Tour, and I think the win in Malaga early on in the year got my confidence going a bit.
"It's nice playing St Andrews. We play it every year in the Dunhill Links, and the first time I've played here in an Open, and it's just a great golf course - I love it.
"It's holy ground we're walking on. It's just a nice feeling playing it, and you've got to work your way around the course. You've got to work your shots around, I like that type of golf."
Oosthuizen's best finish since his triumph at Parador de Malaga Golf has been 20th at The Celtic Manor Wales Open, but he believes some recent improvements on the greens have helped to rediscover his form.
"I've been putting well," he added. "But I just feel like I haven't made those crucial ones. Today I just made a few nice putts, that always helps.
"I think I read the greens around here, I read them quite nice, and I've just got a nice feel on them. It's been nothing different that I did on my putting than last week and the week before."
