Stephen Dodd is hoping he can repeat his 2005 Volvo China Open success at the Shanghai Silport Golf Club this week as the Welshman bids to recapture the form which brought him the most prolific period of his career.
Dodd triumphed by three shots over Dane Thomas Bjorn, who is also among the 136-man field that tees off tomorrow, in a tournament that actually took place in November 2004 but was designated as part of the 2005 season when it was co-sanctioned for the first time by both the European and Asian Tours.
The 40-year-old then went on to claim both the Irish and European Opens, plus the World Cup for Wales when he successfully partnered Bradley Dredge in Portugal, but has failed to record a top-10 finish on the European Tour since emerging victorious at the K Club in July last year.
But he is hoping a similar performance at the same venue in the 2007 edition will instigate a welcome change of fortune.
"It is always nice to come back to venues where you have had success," Dodd said. "That win was a good springboard for success for the couple of years afterwards.
"It was nice to follow the China Open with the Irish Open shortly afterwards just to show it wasn't a one-off. Doing it again means you know it wasn't a fluke.
"I'm looking for a decent week so fingers crossed I will play in a way I'm happy with. The form has not been where I want it the last six or eight months but form comes and goes," he added.
"It's been stop-start for me since November. I have not really got on a run of events apart from three in the Middle East. But I'm looking at the next few weeks to hopefully get some form ready for the middle of the season back in Europe."
Half of the 6,792-yard, par-71 course will be a different prospect from that on which Dodd emerged victorious on over two years ago, and the Welshman's emphasis will very much be on driving the ball as well as he can if he is to be in contention on Sunday.
"The course is slightly different with the new nine so I don't know that as well as I do the other course," he said. "I had a practice round today and it's narrow in places but in fantastic condition. You won't hear any complaints."
