Thriston Lawrence is hoping the confidence gained from a remarkable winning start to his DP World Tour career can propel him to his biggest victory yet at the DP World Tour Championship.
It is almost two years since the South African burst onto the scene with his triumph at the Joburg Open and he followed that up with another win in Switzerland en route to being crowned Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year.
That is a title he is about to surrender but if there were a prize for leading sophomore season, he would surely be in contention to take it after winning his home open and the BMW International Open in the 2023 season.
He has yet to register a top ten in a Rolex Series event and carded rounds of 72-76-71-70 at Jumeirah Golf Estates on his debut last season but, after an opening 71, signed for a stunning bogey-free 64 this time around to head into the weekend just two shots off the lead.
And he is now hoping that a combination of confidence and consistency can take his career to even grater heights.
"Consistency-wise the last two years, it's been unbelievable," he said. "But winning does help. But you never get too used to it.
"Getting into contention is a different ball-game as well. Just confidence-wise, keeping it high feels good.
"In golf, five shots better is a top ten. So five shots, four rounds, a lot of improvement.
"I've definitely felt in good form the last couple of weeks. I've got a long way to go, just keep believing."
While Lawrence's 64 was the lowest effort in round two, countryman Zander Lombard fired a 65 to sit just one shot further back.
The 28-year-old has finished second three times this season to take his career tally to six but insists he will not be forcing things in search of a first win.
"It comes when you least expect it," he said. "So I'm just keeping my head down and doing what I do and it seems to be working.
"I took the week off before the Nedbank and was home for five days and decompressed and went out to Nedbank, and Nedbank feels like a holiday anyway for us.
"This week, I'm well rested and I think I have two more good rounds left in me."
