Dublin's Padraig Harrington is relishing a return to Malaysia this week as he looks to get his 2006 campaign off to a successful start in conditions he describes as perfectly suited to his game.
The world number 19 is the highest ranked player at the Malaysian Open starting at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club resort on Thursday, and the Irish number one is keen to compete again after a productive off-season.
"I've had nine weeks off with the main priority being rest," Harrington told reporters on Wednesday.
"The second priority was doing some good work in the gym over a sustained period of time and the third priority was to do a little bit more on my swing, and I had been tinkering with it towards the end of last season."
Seeking to dethrone hat-trick chasing Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand at the $1.25 million co-sanctioned European and Asian Tour event, the Irishman has good reason to feel positive on his seasonal debut.
"I am playing here in Malaysia again as the golf courses in general do suit me. I play well in the heat and because there is not much run, you have to hit the ball in the air a long way and that suits me," he added.
"I feel very comfortable here and to come out here and be looked after so well, and be called into a press conference at your first event of the year, is good for your ego."
Harrington has not competed since the Target World Challenge in California in December and admitted that his game was in need of competitive action as he searched for a first European Tour win in over 15 months.
"My game is a bit rusty but I am happy with the things I have worked on but it is always different being on the range than pulling the trigger on the golf course," he said.
"I am halfway between the new swing and the old swing. It will take a while before it settles down and finds its own ground."
However, after finishing runner-up at the Malaysian Open twice (2000 and 2001) and in the top 10 on two more occasions (1999 and 2005), Harrington is quietly confident of earning a 10th European Tour victory in Kuala Lumpur.
"I am not one for making predictions but what I really want to do is to get right in there after 69 holes," he said.
"If I am in contention then hopefully my experience will tell. But the first couple of rounds are very important for me because I am a bit rusty and if I do struggle a bit, it is going to be tough."
Harrington expects to feel his way into the tournament slowly and plans to adopt a safety-first approach in the initial stages.
"The key is to not necessarily make a quick start but not to make a slow start," he added.
"I would be quite happy to work my way into the tournament and be there or thereabouts with a few holes to go and take my chances from there.
"The golf course itself is very good and there is also plenty of water out there, which is set back from the greens but it keeps you thinking.
"I like the elevated tees as you play down into the greens and up to the greens, which is a nice way of playing."
