Many of Europe's top golfers are heading to the US to continue their preparations for the Masters in just over a month's time as they look to seal victory in the Honda Classic.

YE Yang, Asia's first golf major winner when landing the 2009 PGA Championship, took the title with his TaylorMade golf clubs at the PGA National and Spa in Florida 12 months ago when seeing off the challenge of John Rollins by a single shot.

He has also made a strong start in 2010 ahead of his title defence as he has yet to miss a cut all year and finished strongly in his last PGA Tour event to claim third spot in the Waste Management Phoenix Open behind Hunter Mahan.

Meanwhile, Yang faces numerous strong challengers including that of Rory McIlroy, who is working with mind guru Dr Bob Rotella in order to attempt to turn some of his numerous tournament near misses into wins.

The Titleist 909D2 golf driver user still only has one professional victory to his name, despite finding himself contesting at the top of a leaderboard on countless occasions.

McIlroy is especially hoping to gain some added confidence with his golf putter through the experience, which is hoped will knock a few shots off his scorecards.

He said: "I feel as if my putting can get better and I think he can point me in the right direction with pre-shot routine and how to think leading up to hitting the putt. Stuff like that.

"I think this could make a couple of shots' difference in tournaments and hopefully turn my top-threes and top-fives into wins. If that happens, it'll be a very worthwhile exercise."

Robert Allenby has shown good form with his golf balls in Florida in the past and can be expected to go close, while Camilo Villegas has finished in the top-ten in both of his starts this year, alongside taking third spot in the recent WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Of the Europeans, Lee Westwood will be looking for a first PGA Tour win since 1998, while Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia and Nike golf irons user Paul Casey will be hoping to string together four strong rounds.

On the European Tour, many eyes will be on Thongchai Jaidee as he goes in search of a record-equalling third triumph in the Maybank Malaysian Open.

The Callaway golf equipment user claimed back-to-back victories in 2004 and 2005 and arrives off the back of a gallant third in the recent Dubai Desert Classic on the PGA Tour.

Jaidee is hoping that he can reproduce his past form at the newly refurbished Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

He told the European Tour website: "I played on this course in 2006 and came back here to see that everything about it has changed. They moved the tee box back on many holes but the condition is perfect. It is the best course in Malaysia.

"They put more bunkers in and they are in play on almost every hole. This year it will be very challenging. This is the best year so far because of good organisation, good facilities and a fantastic golf course."

Darren Clarke, Chris Wood, Soren Kjeldsen and Shingo Katayama will be among the challengers in the event, co-sanctioned between the European Tour and the Asian Tour.

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