Chris Wood gets his 2019 Race to Dubai campaign under way at the Oman Open this week hoping to go one better than last season at Al Mouj Golf.
The Englishman delayed the start to his season due to the birth of his second child recently, while the extended time away from tournament golf has also given the neck injury that plagued the end of 2018 extra time to recover.
Wood's second place finish here in Muscat last term was the first of three in seven months and the three time European Tour winner is eager to get the competitive juices flowing again.
"It was always the plan to start here," he said. "I've been doing a lot of practice at home but Bristol in the winter isn't the same as the Middle East in January and February.
"There'll be a bit of rust, that's expected, but I've done a lot of good practice, I was in Dubai last week all week practising.
The thing you miss is the competition, being competitive and testing yourself, so the next couple of weeks will be good - Chris Wood
"I feel pretty good, really but you never know until you've got a card in your hand. The thing you miss is the competition, being competitive and testing yourself, so the next couple of weeks will be good."
Wood fell in love with Al Mouj last season as he battled it out on the final day with great friend Joost Luiten, and the 31-year-old has nothing but praise for the event which is making its second appearance on the European Tour.
"If anyone moans about this course this week then they're an idiot," he said. "It's just fantastic, you can't fault it.
"The greens are probably the best we play on all year, the whole golf course is absolutely immaculate, we've got amazing facilities - I'm going to be coming back here in a few weeks for a couple of days practice as well, it's that good.
"This tournament will only grow and grow because of the strength of the course and the conditions that we have here. I think every player loves coming here."
Countryman Jordan Smith has fond memories of Al Mouj having secured top spot on the European Challenge Tour here in 2016, and he thinks he knows the keys to success on the Muscat coast.
"I love the course, I've got good memories of Challenge Tour stuff and I had a half decent performance here last year," he said. "It's always great being back here.
"Being right here on the seafront it gets quite windy at times so you've got to control your ball. You've got to do all areas quite well but you've got to control the ball and hole those key putts when you need to."
