Tommy Fleetwood is hoping he can convert his consistent form into a first worldwide win of the year as he aims to complete the Nedbank Golf Challenge hat-trick.
The Englishman arrives in South Africa with the chance to join an elite group of players – including Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo – who have won the same DP World Tour event three times in succession.
After a play-off victory in 2019, Fleetwood returned to Sun City following the event’s two-year hiatus due to Covid-19 and retained his crown as he held off Ryan Fox in a thrilling climax 12 months ago.
With nine top tens worldwide since the start of the year, Fleetwood is now hoping the memories from his stellar record at the Gary Player Golf Course and Country Club inspire him to a seventh DP World Tour title.
"I've played really well. You should always look at the positives and I think this year has been arguably my most consistent year," he said.
"I am very happy with how I've been playing. Yes, there's not been a win, but I've been very, very close. Things could have gone either way in certain events.
"It's always nice when you come back to somewhere where you have memories of getting on holes and you see good shots.
"You never really feel really comfortable on this course. But I guess when you've played well, you're going to feel as comfortable as possible and having the experience coming down the stretch and winning is very, very important and nice to have. We'll see. But it is nice.
"Not won yet, but there's still a couple of events to go for the rest of the year."
Fleetwood heads into the penultimate event of the season lying 29th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex, with the DP World Tour Championship – the fifth and final Rolex Series event of the year – to follow next week.
The 32-year-old, who helped Team Europe regain the Ryder Cup last month, is understandably thrilled by his place in the history of ‘Africa’s Major'.
"Ever since the first time I came, it's got a very special feeling to it driving into the gates of Sun City and it's such a historic event for a lot of us," added the defending champion who has finished no worse than a tie for 21st in his six previous visits.
"For my generation I guess, and for people older and younger too, but I remember it as the Million Dollar Challenge and everything.
"So it's always had such a high value, I guess. And yet to be going for a third win seems pretty surreal, but we'll see what we can do."
Fleetwood is returning to "tournament mode" for the first time since last month's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and believes his game is in good shape despite the time away from competitive action.
"A month off isn't that long, but it feels like a year," he said.
"Anytime we take some time off, it just feels like you've been away for so long. But I'm really happy to be back.
"I always feel like I do plenty of practice and play, but it's just not quite the same as being in that competitive environment."
