Martin Kaymer feels refreshed and ready to go as he looks to kick-start his season at the Maybank Championship Malaysia.
The German has not won on The European Tour since the 2014 US Open Championship and, after missing the cut at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, decided to take a holiday to recharge his batteries.
The 2010 Race to Dubai winner and former World Number One has seen it all before with his 11 European Tour wins, and is hopeful that the atmosphere in Malaysia can help him back into the winner's circle.
"I practised hard over the winter, sometimes it pays off straight away and other times it takes longer," he said. "The last few years, I've managed to get off to a fast start, especially in Abu Dhabi, but this time I've struggled to find my rhythm.
"So I took time off last week and went on holiday, and it really helped to clear my head.
"I'm relaxed most of the time. The golf course suits me, I had a very nice group in the Pro-Am yesterday, we're staying in a nice hotel, the food's good and everyone seems very happy and smiling.
I have no reason not to relax and feel happy! You always expect a lot from yourself, but hopefully I can handle that this week - Martin Kaymer
That season in 2010 saw Kaymer win not only the Race to Dubai but also the US PGA Championship and helped catapult him to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking early in 2011.
But the World Number 36 insists he is not driven by a desire to get back to the top spot, and believes that will come purely as a result of winning again regularly.
"It doesn't bother me, I care much more about winning tournaments, and if you do that consistently enough, then you'll get to Number One," he said. "I know everything that comes with it, and now I'm much more prepared for it than when it happened.
"As long as you stay in the top 50 of the World, it's fine because you can play in every tournament."
Royal Selangor Golf Club is making its second appearance on The European Tour International Schedule after the 2002 Malaysian Open and Kaymer is a big fan of the Kuala Lumpur layout.
"I've played many times in Malaysia, but this has to be my favourite course here," he said. "It's definitely my kind of course, I grew up playing tree-lined courses so in some ways this place reminds me of home – although it's a little bit warmer here!
"You really need to move the ball both ways, and I enjoy the challenge of shaping your shots. You need to hit lots of fairways and then wait for your chances to come along, so it's a fun course to play.
"You have to try to take advantage of the par fives, because they're all reachable in two."
