Patrick Reed returns to the desert this week confident he can rediscover his early season form and become just the second American to be crowned Europe's Number One.
The 2018 Masters winner enjoyed a stunning International Swing in the Middle East in January and February, winning a maiden Rolex Series title at the Dubai Desert Classic, losing in a play-off at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship and then winning the Qatar Masters in consecutive weeks.
That catapulted him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and there he sat for most of the season until Eugenio Chacarra's third victory of the campaign at last month's DP World India Championship saw the Spaniard replace him.
He now arrives back in the region for the DP World Tour Play-Offs, with enhanced points on offer at this week's Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship and the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Having already claimed 2,259.70 of his 3,474.62 Race to Dubai points in the desert this year, he rightly arrives at Yas Links full of confidence and ready to do battle in his attempt to fulfil a lifelong ambition.
"It's always been a goal of mine to win the Race to Dubai and hopefully we can knock that off this year," he said.
"I feel great. Obviously we've played in the desert really well this year. Kind of feel like the game is trending in a spot that I really need it to be right now.
"So yeah, we feel good and comfortable but obviously these two weeks are very important with not only just the Race but with the elevated points, going out there and trying to hopefully hoist up another trophy."
Having spent most of the season as the man to catch, Reed is now having to chase, with any of him, Chacarra, Rory McIlroy and Casey Jarvis able to top the Rankings come Sunday.
The 36-year-old is not looking to change his approach, however, and is keeping his focus on trying to win tournaments.
"It's always fun leading, that's for sure," he said. "It's always fun being out in front. But we are in a good position, sitting there in second and being able to chase and hunt him down.
"But a lot can happen in two weeks. Obviously later in the weeks is when you start thinking of, 'hey, do I need to press or not'. But I've always looked at every week trying to go out and compete and have chance to win at that time and that week. So really, the game plan still stays the same
"You can get yourself in a lot of trouble thinking too far ahead and being too aggressive, and what got me to this position is playing my game and my type of golf. That's how I feel comfortable and that's how I'm going to attack going in there."
Reed will be paired with Chacarra and McIlroy in round one, renewing a rivalry with the Northern Irishman that has provided plenty of entertainment down the years.
Their singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup and battle down the stretch at the 2023 Hero Dubai Desert Classic will continue to live long in the memory and Reed is happy to be once again playing with his old adversary.
"I always love playing against Rory," he said. "I always pride myself on wanting to go out against the best and play against the best but obviously with his record and kind of what he's done throughout his career, he's one of the best golfers to play the game.
"So to be able to go out there and go nose-to-nose with him and play against him is something I always cherish and really enjoy doing. It should be fun."
