South African Justin Harding tees off in The Masters today buoyed by a solid performance last week along with the inspirational memories of his joint 12^th place finish last year at Augusta National.

“I played pretty solid in last week’s Houston Open but did not get too much going in and around the greens. I think it bodes well for this week,” said Harding, who finished in a tie for 38^th on Sunday.

“I feel like I have a good idea where my swing is at. And I am just going to try and build on the good memories of last year. I am excited, it’s almost go time now.”

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 11: Justin Harding of South Africa talks with caddie Alan Burns on the second green during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 11, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Last year marked the first time he had played in the US Masters but he felt he knew how to play the course having watching it so many times.

“You feel like you have played it 100 times as you have watched it on TV.  You kind of know how to play it. So it didn’t feel like last year I was overwhelmed. It was a matter of maintaining and controlling my emotions,” added Harding, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“I played solid all four days. I didn’t quite take advantage of the par fives as much as I would have liked. I played the par threes pretty good. This year it might be a little different. No real round or year is the same.”

He shot rounds of 69, 69, 70 and 72 last year to finish eight under – five behind the champion Tiger Woods from the United States.

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 13: Justin Harding of South Africa reacts on the 18th green during the third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 13, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

He says: “I am thankful I had an opportunity to play well last year and enjoy the Masters experience. I can’t really expect to finish as high as I did again but if I put the pieces together and execute my game plan I have every chance to be there again come Sunday. It’s one of the golf courses that suits my game. It lends itself to a strong putter.”

Harding spent lockdown in London, where he is living with his girlfriend, before playing on the UK Swing of the European Tour.

“It has been pretty solid this year. It’s not been terrible, it’s not been fantastic. I have showed signs of being there and there about. I have been competing, I have had a couple of third place finishes. Felt like I could have got over the line in one or two of them but I haven’t quite put together a good enough Sunday. It’s just one of those things when it’s been a bit of a stop start season so it’s been a bit tricky to maintain form. I think that is kind of the case for a lot of the guys.”

The 34-year-old tees off today at 12.05 am Singapore Time with Japan’s Shugo Imahira and Canadian Nick Taylor.

He enjoyed an outstanding run over the last two years, winning the Bank BRI Indonesia Open and Royal Cup in Thailand back-to-back on the Asian Tour in 2018, before winning the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last year for his maiden title on the European Tour.

He says: “In 2018 and 2019 it was one of those remarkable things when I couldn’t play bad. I went through an unbelievable stretch of form where I maintained it and consistently posted results. I would like to get back there and it feels like I am on the road to doing so. I have stabilized the golf swing and tried to hit a little less bad shots. I think that is the most important things about golf, minimizing the amount of bad shots you hit. It’s normally the guy who makes the least amount of bogeys that wins.”

Ends.