(Reuters) - Scotland's Colin Montgomerie has learned to accept the ups and downs of form and says his recent run of missed cuts is not weighing on his mind as he prepares for this week's BMW Asian Open.
With last year's winner Ernie Els of South Africa not defending his title at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, Montgomerie is one of the favourites to carry off the title at the co-sanctioned $1.8 million tournament with the Asian Tour, which starts on Thursday.
After missing three cuts on a recent swing through the United States, including at the Masters Tournament two weeks ago, the Scot could be forgiven for just focusing on getting through to the final two days at the Tomson Pudong Golf Club.
He knows better than to get anxious, though.
"I've been there and done it and it doesn't affect me either way," the 42-year-old Scot said on Wednesday.
"I've just had a bad run with the putter. Augusta was very disappointing with the putter for the 14th year in a row but never mind, we'll get going here and see what's what."
Henrik Stenson, at 15 a place above Montgomerie in the Official World Golf Rankings, also missed the cut at Augusta and could only manage a tie for 20th at the Volvo China Open in Beijing last week.
"It's been a bit of a struggle," the 30-year-old Swede said. "I have not been swinging it well and have not been able to place the ball where I want to.
"At the U.S. Masters, I had a bad finish on the first day on the last two holes and I lost my patience, and you can't do that at Augusta."
Stenson, like Montgomerie, is a near certainty for the European Team for September's Ryder Cup in Ireland and the Swede is keen to recapture his form of earlier in the season before his first appearance at golf's most prestigious team event.
"I'm looking forward to the Ryder Cup later this year and will try to have a couple of good weeks and be as prepared as I can be," he said.
"It's not about making the team, it's about playing well too and that's what I plan to do here."
While others in the European Tour contingent will be out to grab the Ryder Cup points available in Shanghai, their Asian rivals will be looking to make it two for two for the continent in April's co-sanctioned events in China.
Jeev Milkha Singh broke a seven-year title drought in Beijing last week and the 34-year-old Indian hopes it will spark a revival in his injury-plagued career.
"I am feeling really good and very excited," he said. "Last week's win has given me a lot of confidence coming here."
England's six-time Major winner Nick Faldo, Spain's 2004 Asian Open champion Miguel Angel Jimenez and Dane Thomas Bjorn are also in the field but Englishmen David Howell and Luke Donald, 18th and tenth in the world, have pulled out injured.
Local hopes will again be pinned on 40-year-old Zhang Lianwei, who missed the cut in Beijing last week.
"There is a little bit of pressure playing here with all the local fans cheering and expecting me to do well, but I will try my best and see how it goes," he said.
