Europe's Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke is hopeful his selection will "be a blessing in disguise" as he aims to rediscover his peak form at the Joburg Open.
Clarke was announced as the captain for the 2016 event - which will be held at Hazeltine in Minnesota - last week.
The 46-year-old is reaching the twilight of his career at the top level and has not won an event since his triumph at The Open back in 2011.
But the Northern Irishman feels his position as captain for Europe's title defence may be able to help him improve his individual performance.
"Obviously my own competitive instincts haven't been too good of late and the captaincy might actually be a blessing in disguise in terms of my golf because it will take my mind away from practising too hard and I'll have a lot of things to focus on," Clarke said.
"Hopefully it will help me play a little bit better. Certainly this year, I don't think the captaincy will make an awful lot of difference, but I would imagine next year it would make a big difference in my playing schedule."
Clarke will need to overcome a strong field if he is to claim a 23rd professional title, with home hopes Richard Sterne and George Coetzee among the favourites to lift the trophy.
Coetzee won last year's competition be three strokes, and is confident he has the game to replicate that triumph.
"It's nice to be able to say I am a defending champion of the Joburg Open finally," Coetzee said.
"So I am really looking forward to the week. The courses are in great condition so I'm hoping to have a blast.
"I have always enjoyed the event and the venue. It's close to where I live, so I can stay at home and enjoy it, plus the two golf courses really suit my eye having played them a lot over the years.
"Even the few holes that don't really fit my game, I have managed to find a way to play them.
"My game has developed over the years and I am a lot better equipped to play the courses there.
"My swing is starting to click and get a lot more consistent. I am picking up form slowly and hopefully that continues to pick up to the point where I am standing with that trophy in my hands again on Sunday night."