KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (PA) -- After a series of good performances in the Middle East, Simon Dyson is hoping to kick his European Tour season into gear when he returns to one of his favorite hunting grounds in southeast Asia this week.

Since turning professional a decade ago, the 31-year-old has enjoyed plenty of success in the region, capturing the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2000 and claiming his maiden European Tour victory at the Indonesian Open three years ago.

He has particularly enjoyed his recent outings at the Maybank Malaysian Open, an event where he has finished third in the past two seasons.

"I've always have good memories coming back to Asia, especially Malaysia," said Dyson, who missed out on a playoff by just one stroke in Kuala Lumpur last year. "I've played well over here the last couple of years and it'll be nice to go two better.

"Back in 2000, it was a bit like a fairytale, winning three times and the Order of Merit in my rookie season," he added. "But from doing well there, every time I come back, I get a new found confidence in myself.

"It's weird and it's very hard to explain. I just play well every time I'm here. It gives me the added confidence. It's good."

The Malaysian Open provided the best result of last year for Dyson, who finished a disappointing 55th on the European Tour of Merit. But the Englishman is looking to kick on this week at Saujana Golf & Country Club after a promising run in the Middle East which included a tie for seventh at the Qatar Masters.

"I've been playing some of my best golf the last few weeks during the desert swing but they were not courses that suit me," said Dyson, who is currently 42nd in the Race to Dubai standings. "They were for big hitters as you can see from the guys who are winning and doing well there. Hopefully I can keep that going this week.

"You always need luck to win a tournament," he explained. "The way I'm playing, I'm playing some of my best golf ever, probably. If you get some lucky breaks, things go your way, I'm hoping to contend."

Dyson has hardly taken a break since the end of the last European Tour season but is more than happy with his busy schedule.

"To be honest, I've not had an off-season," he admitted. "I played in Singapore and Hong Kong, which was at the end of a six-week run. And then I had one week off and went to South Africa for two and a half weeks.

"I flew home where I spent seven days at home and flew back out to Asia for a bit of a holiday and flew to Dubai for the start of the tournament.

"I just enjoy playing golf and I try to play as much as I can. I'm not a fan of huge breaks. Some guys take six or seven weeks off at the end of the year, but it depends on the person," he added. "I play my best golf when I'm playing in two, three, four tournaments in a row instead of playing one week, a couple off."

Copyright 2009 PA Sport. All rights reserved.