The 2019 Race to Dubai has not even started yet but Patrick Reed already has his sights set firmly on being crowned European Number One.
The new season gets under way this week at the Honma Hong Kong Open presented by Amundi and Reed arrives in excellent form, with a tie for second in Dubai last week pushing him up to a season-ending second on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
That represented the best ever finish by an American over a European Tour season and the Masters Tournament champion is determined to continue his globetrotting schedule and go on better this time around.
"I've always taken pride in playing on both tours," he said. "Being an American that comes over and does it consistently, and to have the results that I did last year and to play the way I did and finish second in the Race to Dubai meant a lot.
"I'm looking forward to this year getting started and hopefully bettering that.
"The game feels pretty solid. It's just something I've been trying to build on ever since Augusta is to keep the game consistent and steady throughout the year."
World Number Nine Tommy Fleetwood finished one place behind Reed on the 2018 Race to Dubai and he arrives in Fanling as the highest-ranked player in the field on the Official World Golf Ranking.
And while many eyes will be on Fleetwood, Reed and his fellow Green Jacket winner Sergio Garcia, Reed is expecting a big challenge from some of the players who are closer to home.
"I think the greatest thing right now, just in the game of golf in general, is the strength of field and the depth of the field and the talent around the world," he said.
"It seems like every event we go to, there's more and more people that you don't really know very well that are either winning or competing to win golf tournaments at the end.
To finish second in the Race to Dubai meant a lot. I'm looking forward to this year getting started and hopefully bettering that - Patrick Reed
"That just shows how deep golf is these days, going up against a lot of guys from Asia that are just solid, rock-solid from top to bottom in all aspects of their game."
Reed has two previous appearances at this event and while a third-place finish in 2015 shows he can compete on the course, he is also looking forward to taking in all Hong Kong has to offer.
"What better place to come here and start the season than in Hong Kong," he said. "It's a place that the first year I came over, I fell in love with it and it's a place that I can't wait to come to every year now. I really look forward to the week getting started.
"This is a place that I absolutely love and I want to experience more of it than just the golf course, which is unbelievable.
"I went out there today and played a couple of holes and it's in the best shape I've ever seen it in. It is absolutely perfect and I can't wait to get out and start playing."
