Ian Poulter is refreshed, relaxed and raring to go as he continues his return from injury at the UBS Hong Kong Open this week.
The Englishman missed five months of action in the summer as he cleared up a long-standing foot problem but made a few US PGA Tour appearances before teeing it up on the European Tour for the first time in eight months at last week's Australian PGA Championship.
He now finishes the calendar year at Hong Kong Golf Club, and arrives in slightly less dramatic circumstances than he did in the last staging in 2015.
After dropping out of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Poulter was in danger of not playing the minimum amount of events to keep his Tour Membership, and only flew to Hong Kong on the Tuesday morning after Rich Beem kindly sacrificed his invitation to allow him to play.
Poulter's preparation has been ideal this time around at a course where he finished in the top five three times between 2009 and 2011, winning in 2010.
"I think it's come at a good time this year," he said. "It was a little late in the calendar last year, leaving on a Tuesday morning to try and come over.
"I'm in good form. I'm rested. I feel my game now, kind of six events in, feels pretty good.
"So it's good to come to a golf course where I've had quite a bit of success. Quite a few rounds in the 60s on this course and obviously holding that trophy in 2010. So I'm looking forward to the challenge this week.
"I feel my game is there. I just need to hole a few more putts. Certainly coming to a golf course like this, where you've seen lots of putts going in, hopefully I can do the same this week and put myself in contention."
Countryman Danny Willett tees it up in Fanling for the first time since 2011 and an awful lot has changed for the 29 year old since then.
Quite a few rounds in the 60s on this course and obviously holding that trophy in 2010. So I'm looking forward to the challenge this week - Ian Poulter
He has claimed five European Tour titles, including a maiden Major Championship at the Masters Tournament, and made his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine this year.
That success has seen him finish second in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex for the past two seasons, and he will be looking to go one better as he makes his first 2017 appearance.
"We're trying to reset the goals and trying to get back some of that form that we had back in the middle of this year," he said.
"Hopefully starting here in Hong Kong and take it forward as a real good kick-start to the 2017 season.
"What we did so well over the last two years is play golf tournaments we want to play. Funnily enough, when you play somewhere you want to play, you often play a bit better. This has definitely been on that list for a while."
Patrick Reed is playing in Hong Kong for the second consecutive year after finishing in a tie for third last time, and believes he is better equipped now to move up two places and take the title.
The short and narrow nature of the Fanling layout is a rare thing in modern golf and Reed admits he will have to tailor his game the second time around.
"The golf course is one of the best short golf courses I've ever played," he said. "It's not long at all. It's short. It's really narrow.
"It gives you all different kinds of shots you need to hit. It really tests your game in a lot of different ways and a lot of different unique ways, rather than other golf courses.
"It's a fun place. I'm so excited to be back and hopefully put on a good show this week.
"Last year I felt like I was a little too aggressive on a lot of holes that I could just hit iron or three wood off the tee and keep myself in the fairway. I felt like that is what cost me a chance of winning the golf tournament."
