Wednesday 24 May 2017 19:35, UK
Henrik Stenson believes his game is trending in the right direction as he searches for a return to form at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Swede posted three top-eight finishes in his first four starts of the year but missed his next three cuts, including in the opening major of the year at Augusta.
Stenson ended that run with a tied-16th finish at the Players Championship earlier this month, with the Race to Dubai champion looking to build on that result in his first Wentworth appearance since 2014.
"I think we're getting closer," Stenson told a pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday. "I wouldn't say we're 100 per cent but we're heading in the right direction.
"I'm hitting more good shots, and the bad ones are hopefully a little closer to where they need to be, as well. I had a great year last year and there's always a bit of a risk to run out of steam at some point.
"I kind of did that in '14 after the great year I had in '13. In the spring, it was hard to get going. It goes ups and downs. I'm not too worried about that."
The 41-year-old tees off for the opening two rounds alongside Branden Grace and Tommy Fleetwood, who already has a win and two runner-up finishes on the European Tour this season.
Stenson returned to Royal Troon in the build-up to this week's event, the scene of last year's record-breaking major win, with the world No 5 looking to draw on those positive memories.
"It was great to be back there," Stenson added. "A lot of the memories come back to you. Even though it's recent, it's still almost a year ago, but being there for a couple of hours yesterday and seeing the scene of the crime again, it was good times.
"I haven't been that happy with my long game in particular over the past couple of months, or even longer than that.
"It's a work in progress, but overall I don't think we're in a bad spot and it will be nice to pick up some form this week."
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