Reigning Made in Denmark presented by FREJA champion Matt Wallace hopes a successful defence can help towards his goal of winning the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex.
The Englishman has been in fine form in the run-up to his defence at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort, finishing in a tie for second at the Betfred British Masters before producing his best performance at a Major Championship when tied third at last week's 101st US PGA Championship at Bethpage State Park BK Course.
Wallace, who moved up to World Number 25 in the Official World Golf Ranking as a result, admitted that smaller events on the European Tour may struggle to attract some of the world's leading stars - but he ensured that he will not be one of them as he eyes a bigger prize.
"My schedule is pretty locked in," Wallace said. "I'll try to win the Race to Dubai now. I have a great chance. It's still quite early on in the season, but I am in a nice position to try to accomplish that.
"That's a goal of mine for sure. I have the best schedule possible and that includes a lot of European Tour events."
He currently sits second in the Race to Dubai standings, only trailing to Kevin Kisner, and could mount a serious challenge to overhaul the American if he maintains his strong form in Denmark.
Wallace finished sixth two years ago when the event was last held at Himmerland Golf & Spa Resort before winning a four man play-off last season to claim his third European Tour title of the campaign at Silkeborg Ry Golf Club.
"Expectations are good," he added. "I try not to think about how I want to perform or how I want to win the tournament. I try to lower my expectations as much as possible. I just do what I need to do. I need to prepare as best as I can.
"This is the first time coming out to defend a tournament. It's nice to come to a tournament that you know that you've won, it brings back memories even though it's a different golf course.
"From what I hear, it's at Himmerland for the next few years or so, it would be nice to win this week and know we are coming back next year."
I'll try to win the Race to Dubai now. I have a great chance - Matt Wallace
Wallace reflected on his tied-third finish at the US PGA Championship and was more than happy with his result, after World Number One Brooks Koepka raced clear before Dustin Johnson reeled in his fellow American during the final round.
He said: "Last year at the PGA was great, I enjoyed it, playing with Jordan Spieth on the Saturday and playing the weekend and finishing 19th, that was nice.
"But this was in the thick of it. Group out from the last, trying to get second place - that was the goal.
"After two days, second place was my aim. But now to say that I finished behind Brooks and DJ in a Major really backs up my reasons why I wanted to change a few people in my team, to think of the bigger picture and perform well in the Majors.
"I hadn't done well in the big tournaments and that was important to me."
