Carl Mason, whose five wins last year included the PGA Seniors Championship, is relishing the prospect of defending his Order of Merit title.
The 54 year old begins his defence with a trip to the European Seniors Tour's newest event - the inaugural Azores Senior Open, at Batalha Golf Course.
The Azores - along with Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic and India - is one of five new destinations added to the schedule.
Mason, who with three Order of Merit titles is two shy of Tommy Horton's haul, is targeting a positive start to the season as he bids to add a fourth to his name.
"It's important to get off to a good start, because I don't want to fall too far behind in the rankings," he said.
"But I've been playing reasonably well, so I'm fairly confident. I was pretty pleased with my swing and my ball striking in America.
"Unfortunately, with the bad weather we've been having lately, I haven't had too many chances to play since I've got back.
"But I've been working hard on my fitness in the gym, which is something I never really used to do. It means I get less tired at tournaments, and can cope better with the heat and humidity at places like India and, to a lesser extent, the Azores."
Mason has also commented on the growing appeal of seniors golf, reflected in the five new tournaments on the calendar.
"The Seniors Tour has changed beyond all recognition since I started playing in 2003," he said.
"I'm really excited about playing in all these new places - we'll certainly be racking up some air miles this year. But it can only be a good thing for the seniors game.
"I've never been to the Azores before, but I've heard great things about the place and the condition of the course. It's right in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, so the wind will probably be a big factor.
"Whoever deals best with the conditions might determine who wins the tournament."
Mason topped the Order of Merit last year with record earnings of €412,376 but trails Bill Longmuir by €28,435 after the Scot won the season-opening DGM Barbados Open.
The Batalha Golf Course is located on the island of Sao Miguel, the largest of the nine islands which form the Azores.
The 6,925 yards, par 72 course, which is noted for its breathtaking sea views, is one of only three in the region.
Former Ryder Cup star Costantino Rocca, runner-up behind Mason on last year's Order of Merit, is also in the field.