Darren Clarke has every reason to be positive following his improved start to the new season but the big Ulsterman admits he still plans to learn what he can when he tees it up with the in form world number two Ernie Els in Dubai tomorrow.
Clarke underwent a major overhaul during the winter, switching to a new set of Taylor Made clubs, dropping his caddy for Paul McGinley's former bag carrier and resuming ties with coach Butch Harmon, who also teaches Tiger Woods.
Such drastic changes have brought immediate positives for the 34-year-old who claimed a top 10 spot in the PGA Nissan Open last month before reaching the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay last week.
Clarke may have gone further in the knock-out event had he not let a three-hole advantage slip against Australian Peter Lonard. "That was disappointing but, in the bigger picture, to start off (this year) as I have is a huge bonus," said Clarke who was in pursuit of repeating his 2000 success at the La Costa venue in California where he beat Tiger Woods in final.
Clarke will tee it up alongside the defending champion Els in tomorrow's Dubai Desert Classic, an event which some big name stars such as Woods and Colin Montgomerie chose to stay away amid the ever present threat of war in the region.
"Ernie's playing fantastic," Clarke told a press conference at the Emirates Golf Club today. "His rhythm is tremendous - the way he walks, the way he swings, everything. He's so much within himself. To go out with the number two player in the world, I'll certainly be watching him, trying to pick up anything I can learn."
The Dungannon golfer linked up with Els yesterday to win the Jebel Ali Challenge as both big hitters impressed the galleries with regular drives of over 300yards. India's Arjun Atwal - last month's Malaysian Open winner - is the third member of tomorrow's group.
Clarke now has the aid of a camcorder and a laptop to assist him on the range if he is unable to meet up with Harmon in person.
"I spoke to him every day, two or three times, about my game at Riviera and then every day at La Costa," he said after recognising the need to improve on last season.
"Last season was not much fun," said Clarke as he concluded his preparations on the range today where Harmon taps into the technology aids to monitor his swing.
"I worked very hard but we had a lot of things happening off the golf course. I wasn't able to forget those when I was on the golf course as much as I tried."
Clarke managed just one win last season at the English Open but it was not enough to stem a slump in confidence and watch his place on the World Rankings slide. The burly cigar smoker has since moved back up to 22nd after his World Matchplay efforts as he bids for a return to the top 10.
The introduction of a new driver has also seen Clarke gain new found confidence off the tee.
"I'm hitting it 25 yards further than I ever have done before. It's going straight most of the time, so things are working out okay. I'm an awful lot more confident."
"Certainly I've improved and I'm much, much better than this time last year. There are a lot of positives," he concluded.
There is a strong Irish contingent competing in Dubai this week. Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Gary Murphy and Peter Lawrie all take their place in the field alongside a rejuvenated Clarke.