Cameron Smith feels he's in career-best form as he begins a three-month quest to secure a second Masters invitation.
Having recently won the Australian PGA Championship, the 24-year-old Queenslander has climbed to a world ranking of No.61 but needs to break into the top 50 to earn a ticket to Augusta National in April.
Smith made his Masters debut in 2016, when he tied for 55th.
"My confidence is probably at an all-time high. I think it's the best that everything has ever felt, game-wise," Smith told AAP on Wednesday.
"To get both wins last year done in playoffs, where there is so much pressure, has given me so much confidence that I can handle those obstacles down the stretch during final rounds," he said.
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Smith's breakthrough US PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic teams event last year did not come with an automatic Masters berth, which are awarded to winners of most tournaments on the US circuit.
But the Florida-based Brisbane native has backed himself to be at the first major of 2018, one way or another.
"Since I went to Augusta in 2016, all I've wanted to do is go back and play," he said.
"It'd be huge if I could get myself back one of the two ways you can qualify, but to win (a PGA Tour title) and get in to the Masters would be perfect."
Helping Smith's charge is a maiden start at this week's Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, a no-cut event at Kapalua's Plantation course on Maui.
The 30-man event featuring last season's winners is a world rankings goldmine given the strength of the elite field.
Smith will then play five of the next seven PGA Tour events on the West Coast of the US to give himself every chance.
"I'm going to try and play as much as I can, without straining myself too much," said Smith.
"All the events on the west coast (except for the CareerBuilder Challenge and Pebble Beach Pro-Am) and the Honda Classic before having a rest."
