Colin Montgomerie may have just had a season to forget on the European Tour but the Scot has started this season with renewed vigour as he looks to begin his ascent back up the world rankings at this week's UBS Hong Kong Open.
The 45-year-old has amassed an impressive 31 career titles over the last two decades but has seen his chances of adding to that diminish in recent times with his last European Tour victory coming in July 2007.
Montgomerie has, however, given himself a good chance of ending that barren run in Hong Kong this week after following up an opening-round two-under-par 68 with a 65 on Friday to put him only one shot off the lead.
Seeing his name high up on the leaderboard is something Montgomerie concedes he has not seen for a while and the Scot is hopeful of maintaining his form through the weekend in a bid to regain some lost confidence.
"It has been too long and it is nice to see it there," said Montgomerie, after carding six birdies and only one bogey at the Hong Kong Golf Club. "I'm 45 years old and I am just trying to gain some confidence.
"When I was winning in the 1990s on a regular basis I was confident of doing so but now I have lost my confidence.
"So getting two scores back-to-back in the 60s is good for me and I can gain some confidence from that and know I can achieve what I think I can."
Montgomerie could not be participating in a better tournament to get his season off to a strong start having experienced victory here three years ago.
Next week he will make the short trip to China as he looks to stage a successful defence of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup he won for Scotland alongside Marc Warren last year.
And Montgomerie is keen to end the year on a high in order to give himself a solid chance of improving on his current world ranking of 118th.
"I think people understand that this course (in Hong Kong) is more suited to my style of play," he added.
"This is a more shot-making and more accurate type of golf course, one of the shortest we play all year, so this is why I like this particular style of play, so there should be no surprise that my name is on the leaderboard to be honest.
"It is up there with the players that are playing well right now. It is good I can compete alongside them.
"It is very important I get this year off to a good start. The last few years I haven't and it is important to start well and feel good going into the Christmas break and come out again in Abu Dhabi feeling strong and confident."
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