Sergio Garcia is back from his mid-season slump and ready to defend his HSBC Champions title this week in Shanghai.

The Spaniard left Sheshan International Golf Club 12 months ago with the title and a career-high world ranking of second before enjoying a productive Middle East swing at the start of the year, but - until a return to form at August's Wyndham Championship yielded a fourth-place finish - a top-10 position at the US Open was all Garcia has to show for his efforts.

He now heads to Shanghai on the back of a sixth place at the BMW Championship and fourth place at the Castello Masters, and said: "On the performance side, it was probably a little disappointing year. But if I had to think about how I have matured and how I learned not only in golf but in life, I think it's been a very positive so you always have to look on the bright side."

He added: "As a defending champion it brings confidence, it brings me good thoughts. It's a course where I have done well, so it's always a positive thing.

"There is no doubt you are thinking about defending your title. But if I didn't win last year, I would be standing here trying to win the title again so the main goal is still the same."