Patrick Reed is venturing into the unknown this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open but the American Ryder Cup star is relishing the chance to test his game in the Far East.
This is Reed's first time competing in Hong Kong's longest running sporting event as the 57th edition of the Hong Kong Open returns to Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
The 25 year old does have experience of playing in Asia, including finishing 22nd in last season's World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions in Shanghai, but he is looking forward to the new challenge posed just over 750 miles south west of China's largest city.
"Oh, I'm very excited, I'm very excited to be back," he said.
Any time I come over here, I really enjoy it in Asia and I haven't been back to Hong Kong ever. To come over here, kind of see the area and see the new golf courses, I can't wait - Patrick Reed
"It's one of the places that when I first landed, my wife and I kind of looked at each other and said, 'we've never seen so many buildings in our life'. There's nothing like New York or Houston, which are pretty large skylines back home. And out here, it just seems like the buildings just go on forever and ever.
"It's going to be fun to not only play some good golf but hopefully go out and explore a little bit."
Reed claimed his first professional win in 2013 but truly burst onto the scene last year as he sealed two victories, including the World Golf Championships - Cadillac Championship, forcing his way onto the Ryder Cup team where he won three and a half points out of four in the United States' defeat at Gleneagles.
Another good season has followed, with Reed finishing in the top 30 of his eight European Tour events so far, and he is hoping that giving his schedule a more international flavour can take him to even greater heights.
"I feel like my game needs to keep on improving and just travel around the world, see the different types of grasses, different types of terrains and kind of just different climates, because golf is so different all around the world," he said.
"You get your different courses in the States, your different courses in China and Asia, and different courses in around Europe.
"It's just one of those things that I need to come out and feel like I need to test my game in all different places and hopefully it will pay off."
World Number Eight Dustin Johnson is also in Hong Kong this week after recently helping Reed and his fellow American team-mates beat the International team 15.5 - 14.5 at the Presidents Cup in Korea.
That was not the big-hitting 31 year old's first success in Asia after he won the 2013 WGC - HSBC Champions and he is hoping to make more trips to this part of the world in the future.
"Obviously it's a long way to travel for me," he said. "I like to come at least once a year. This year, I'll be three times over here. So Presidents Cup and then playing here at the UBS Hong Kong Open, and then in two weeks I'll be in Shanghai for HSBC. Getting a lot of play.
"I enjoy every time I come over here, I've really enjoyed it, and I'm excited about this week.
"If it fits in my schedule, yeah, I enjoy coming. I'd like to come and play a few times a year."
