Martin Kaymer is hopeful that his game is peaking at the right time after he put himself in contention with an opening 66 at The 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon.
The German has not won since claiming the US Open title in 2014 but a bogey-free opening effort left him just three shots behind leader Phil Mickelson after 18 holes on the Ayrshire coast.
The two-time Major Championship winner and former World Number One has slipped to 52nd in the Official World Golf Ranking but he is feeling confident about his game and is ready to win again.
"I played very calm," he said. "There's not much stress. In March, April, May I thought I was playing really well but I couldn't get good scores on the scorecard.
"Then when you get asked about it, you obviously can tell the truth but the reporter or whoever, you can feel doesn't really believe it because he sees the scores and you just want to prove it to yourself that you actually do play better golf and the result shows.
"I think that turned around a little bit pretty much since I came back to Europe and played the Irish Open.
I really enjoyed playing golf more so we'll see how far that summer can take me - Martin Kaymer
Kaymer no longer has a card on the US PGA Tour and he admits he is glad to be playing more back on the European Tour.
"I think when you're an American you feel more comfortable in America," he said. "As a European, I love playing in Europe because every week is very different and every course that we play, I enjoy the different cultures.
"You can drive to some tournaments. For me, that is just the way I have to schedule my next few years a little more like. It took me ten years, not to figure it out, but to understand where is the best place for me to play my best golf.
"Obviously I had huge success in America and I love playing in America. But not all year long because I'm from Europe and that's why I enjoy playing in Europe a lot."
Søren Kjeldsen and Andy Sullivan were just a shot behind Kaymer at four under.
