Padraig Harrington starts a run of four American tournaments in a row on Thursday with the calm disposition that only comes from knowing your last three tour titles were all majors.
Bringing his game to a peak at the Masters in April, when he will try to become just the third player in history to win three different majors in a row, is what it is all about.
To emulate Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods, who at Augusta in 2001 went on to complete the 'Tiger Slam', would be a dream come true for Harrington.
But the reality of the moment is that, in the continued injury absence of Woods, he is inevitably one of the favourites for the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.
The San Diego course, of course, is where Woods, effectively on one leg, achieved his unforgettable 14th major at last June's US Open.
It is also where he won the last four Buicks, six in all - plus six world junior titles.
Harrington finished 36th last summer and has never previously played this tournament, but his two Opens and especially his Open and US PGA double mean his every move is now followed.
On his first appearance of the year he finished joint fifth in Abu Dhabi three weeks ago. The result was fine, but he felt he had left plenty of room for improvement.
"There's work to be done - a lot of work to be done," said the world number three.
"The score (17 under par) flatters me to be honest.
"There were plenty of mistakes, but you obviously get a good idea how you stand after your winter break and I'm happy with what I saw.
"I'm always anxious before every tournament and I had no idea what my game would be like coming out.
"With two more weeks of practice hopefully I'll be a little bit more comfortable getting into the flow of things."
Harrington kicks off on the easier North Course in the opening round, partnering world number 11 Camilo Villegas and American Marc Turnesa, who considering he is ranked 159th ought to wonder what he has done to deserve such a group.
Phil Mickelson goes straight in at the deep end on the South Course, as does Luke Donald, whose mind is sure to go back to suffering the wrist injury in the US Open which put him out until December.
"I was on the 15th tee on the Sunday and I just felt a pop," he recalls.
"On the positive side I felt like my swing was slipping into some places that I didn't like in 2008 and the injury gave me time to reflect upon what I needed.
"When I was able to start hitting balls (in November) I was able to start building my game up from the ground level, starting with putting and then short chips and working through the bag."
Five years ago Donald lost a play-off to John Daly at the event. That was Daly's last win - he is now 749th in the world and serving a six-month US Tour ban.
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