Niklas Nørgaard is hoping he can win his second DP World Tour title of the season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after going from a “guest” to "at home" on the Rolex Series stage.
The Dane missed the cut on his debut at Yas Links last year, but he heads into the final round of the lucrative first event of the DP World Tour Play-Offs one shot adrift of leader Paul Waring after a three-under 69.
Since winning the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo in September, Nørgaard has enjoyed three top-20 finishes in his subsequent five starts on the DP World Tour.
Such form means he is seventh on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and in line to earn dual membership by claiming one of ten PGA TOUR cards on offer at the end of the season.
And Nørgaard, who has climbed from outside the top 300 on the Official World Golf Ranking to 96th, will be drawing on his winning feeling at The Belfry in the summer when he looks to add his name to the Rolex Series roll of honour on Sunday.
"Today, playing in the final group I would have been so nervous if I had not tried that before.
"It's funny how it takes you, because a year ago, I really felt like a guest at these tournaments, and now I feel more at home.
"So, I think that I can draw a lot into tomorrow."
Nørgaard admitted to being frustrated at making his first bogey of the week at Yas Links on the ninth hole in the third round, but he showed his growing composure and belief at this level by carding three back-nine birdies.
This represents the 27th event of the Race to Dubai campaign for the 32-year-old and he attributes his excellent performance in the United Arab Emirates down to some practice since his last appearance at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters last month.
"I think as I said one of the previous days that I've been home for two weeks and done some quality work at home and I just have a lot of confidence from working well at home, and that's what I'm kind of bringing into this week," he said.
