Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat will head to next week's Masters in fine form following superb performances on the world stage in the last two months.
Since last month, the immensely popular Thai has won the World Super 6 Perth and accepted an invitation from a prince to play on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) where he dominated the Brunei Championships.
In his two appearances at the World Golf Championships, Kiradech secured tied fifth results at the WGC-Mexico Championships and the WGC-Match Play in Austin, Texas, last week where he was beaten by eventual winner Bubba Watson in the quarter-finals.
His result in Texas moved him to a career-high 29th position in the world rankings, just one rung from equalling Thongchai Jaidee's best world ranking position of 28th which he achieved in 2015, the highest recorded by a Thai.
Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour No.1, stormed into the spotlight with his battling performances in 2018 but it was in 2017 where the Thai produced a gutsy display to move into the world's top 50 in just four months.
He was ranked 160th in the world in September and thanks to two runner-up finishes and a victory at the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation on the ADT, it gave Kiradech a fighting chance at the Asian Tour's season-ending Indonesian Masters to break into the top 50.
Battling through a back injury, Kiradech needed a top-five result in the event and he did so in sensational style when he eagled the last hole to attain his goal and eventually finished 49th on the final 2017 world rankings to qualify for the Masters on his own merit.
"The way I fought to qualify for the Masters is amazing. Now I want to show the world an Asian can surprise and contend in a major," said Kiradech who is dubbed Asia's John Daly.
The last two months is testament that Kiradech's career is trending in the right direction ahead of his second appearance at the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.
He finished a credible tied 15th in his Masters debut in 2016 which is his best result in a major so far.
"I've been comfortable with the way I've been playing. I'm feeling very confident and I've putted very well lately," said the big-hitting Thai.
"I look forward to playing in Augusta. I will try to go earlier and try and feel comfortable on the greens," he added.
He will be joined by first-timer Shubhankar Sharma of India, who leads the Asian Tour's money race and the European Tour's Race to Dubai.
Sharma and Kiradech have enjoyed a fine run so far which they hope to continue at the Masters and beyond.
"I'm so happy that I'm now inside the top-30 in the world. The goal now is to try and stay inside the top-30 and hopefully earn a PGA Tour card," said the 28-year-old Thai ace.
"I will give it my best at the Masters at Augusta because I have such good memories there.
"Augusta is a golf course which suits my game and I've been playing very well so hopefully it will be another week which I will remember."