Lee Westwood in buoyant mood as he bids for a first European Tour title in three years at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia

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Former world number one Lee Westwood is in buoyant mood as he looks to claim a first European Tour title in three years at the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.

Westwood has enjoyed plenty of success in the Far East during his career, recording victories in Japan, Macau, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, as well as his last European Tour success in Malaysia.

The 43-year-old also won at this week's venue of Saujana Golf and Country Club as far back as 1997 and has been encouraged by a good start to the season in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Lee Westwood is preparing to play in the Maybank Championship in Malaysia this week

'Honestly I don't remember a lot about the win here 20 years ago,' Westwood admitted at a pre-tournament press conference. 'I just remember winning and being associated with Saujana for two or three great years in the middle of the 90s.

'I actually lost here in a play-off in 1998 after the win in 1997, so I almost won back-to-back.

'I won here in Malaysia three years ago so I love the place and it's nice to be back. I'm looking forward to a good week. I seem to play well in South East Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, those hot places, and I'm looking forward to getting going and getting off to a fast start and getting into contention.

'I've played well in the first couple of tournaments of the season, eighth in Abu Dhabi, 23rd last week even though I was the wrong side of the draw, so my game's in pretty good shape.

'If you asked me to point out a weakness in my game at the moment I'd be struggling to say one.'

The same could not be said of Westwood's stablemate and Masters champion Danny Willett, who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi and was 54th in Dubai after ending 2016 by finishing sixth in Hong Kong.

'I've only played three tournaments, 10 competitive rounds of golf, and some of it has been good, some of it bad,' the world number 15 said.

Westwood's last European Tour win came three year ago at the same tournament

'I'm going through some changes with a few bits so just trying to bed them in now. I thought I had it pretty good last week but it didn't quite filter through for all four days on the golf course.

'This year has been a little bit slow so far but hopefully we can progress working forward and hopefully this year keep progressing.

'I first came here eight years ago, my first event on tour which I was first reserve for and then didn't get in. I've been back here for a couple of corporate days in between so I know the course well.'

The 43-year-old also won at the Saujana Golf and Country Club 20 years ago, back in 1997

Defending champion Marcus Fraser will make his first appearance of 2017 in the £2.4million event, which also marks the return to action of 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel following a knee injury.

'I struggled with my knee a little at the end of the year and it never really got better, so by the time it came to January for my MRI scan it turned out I needed a longer break,' the South African said.

'That has actually allowed me to be a lot fresher than I think I would have been, to sort out some of my clubs and get some practice done to get my game in shape. I think overall it's been a good thing. It's been nine weeks since I last played competitively and it's the freshest I've ever been.'