Marcus Fraser already knows what it is like to win a tournament in New Zealand.
The Australian golfer is the latest - and highest ranked - player to confirm his participation in the New Zealand Open at The Hills and Millbrook next month.
Fraser (36) won his first significant title, the New Zealand amateur, at Middlemore in 2002, after he had been the top individual at the Eisenhower Trophy in Malaysia.
''I always like coming back to New Zealand, even though I haven't actually played there in a while,'' Fraser told the Otago Daily Times from Thailand yesterday.
''I've played at The Hills once. And I went to Queenstown on holiday last year. I'm looking forward to going back for the Open.''
Fraser nearly made it a rare double when he challenged for the New Zealand Open at Gulf Harbour in 2006 before finishing second to countryman Nathan Green.
He has five professional wins, including two on the European Tour, and holds a world ranking of No 173.
Rated one of the best putters on the European Tour, Fraser has already had two top-10 finishes this year, including a tie for second behind Lee Westwood at the Thailand Championship, which he led after 54 holes.
He endured a rough 2014 after taking eight months off due to injury.
''I had an operation on my hand. I had some bone taken out and had treatment for tendinitis in my left hand,'' Fraser said.
''I came back into it for five events before Christmas. Thailand is my fourth tournament this year and it feels like things are moving in the right direction.''
Fraser heads to the Indian Open next week, then will rest for a couple of weeks before heading to Arrowtown.
Later in the year, he will head to the home of golf, St Andrews, for his fifth appearance in the British Open.
''It's always a great tournament, obviously. And it's great to be going to St Andrews this year, which is the pinnacle of golf.''
