Eight-times European number one Colin Montgomerie, who finished the season ninth on the order of merit, is determined to maintain a proud winning record in the last two months of the year.
"It has been a poor season," said the 43-year-old Briton. "I am desperate to win this year as I have never gone a calendar year without winning a title. "I have six or seven events left and I intend to keep that run going with a victory," he told the Champions Tournament Web site.
As soon as the Volvo Masters at Valderrama brought down the curtain on the 2005-06 European season, Montgomerie was preparing to start the 2006-07 campaign with a strong showing in next week's Champions Tournament in Shanghai.
The Scot joins a powerful line-up at the Sheshan International Golf Club including world number one Tiger Woods, number two Jim Furyk and order of merit winner Padraig Harrington.
"I've still got the ambition and the drive to go out and win golf events," said Montgomerie. "I have the same drive and ambition I had when I was 20. "If that dwindles in any way I'll be in trouble. I've got to have that drive, as long as that remains I've got a few years left at this game yet."
Montgomerie, joint runner-up behind Australian Geoff Ogilvy at the US Open in June, detests finishing second. "It may pay well these days but for me second place is the worst position," he said. "Finishing 20th is better than that. "I hate finishing second, knowing that you came so close to winning but didn't. That's when questions arise like why didn't I win? What went wrong?
"When you finish 10th you know you were never really in with a chance. When 10th is the best I can do, I know it will be time to stop." The Champions Tournament starts on November 9.