Fabrizio Zanotti is determined to keep his mind in the present as he prepares to defend his title at this week's Maybank Championship.
The Paraguayan produced one of the rounds of the season just under 12 months ago here at Saujana Golf and Country Club, as a birdie-eagle finish handed him a closing 63 to pip David Lipsky to the crown by one shot.
Zanotti admits that is an afternoon he will never forget but he insists his focus is entirely on Thursday as he defends a European Tour title for the second time.
“I am looking forward to it a lot but I am not thinking about it too much," he said. "I am just trying to enjoy the week, it’s not often you defend a title so I am just trying to enjoy the week.
“You need to be very patient here, all the guys are going to make a lot of birdies, so you are going to have plenty of opportunities and you won’t make all of the birdies so to stay patient is very important for this week.
“Today when I played the 18th I saw the place where I holed the putt and it was just a really good day, a really good round and I won’t forget those memories."
It’s not often you defend a title so I am just trying to enjoy the week - Fabrizio Zanotti
The 34 year old achieved three more top tens last season en route to a career-best 25th-placed finish in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex and, after a recent top ten at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA, he is feeling confident.
“I’m feeling good," he said. "I played really good in Abu Dhabi, I worked hard in Paraguay for the beginning of the year and I am happy with my game. Hopefully this week I can play well again.
"The game is feeling good, I just think I need to do my thing and stay patient, play my own game."
