Early arrival and current form puts Donald in the frame

It is also the memory of his debut six years ago – in particular his finish.

Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco were out on their own fighting for the title, but Donald played the last eight holes in a spectacular six under par to take a share of third place with Retief Goosen.

“I think you can still feed off it,” said the world No 4. “It goes back to ‘if you have done it before you can do it again.’

“That’s what makes this place exciting – it’s there. Even if you’re a few shots back you still feel you can make a run.

“I did so well that first year because I was just so excited to play and enjoyed it. I will try to do the same this year.”

Donald also remembers that his back nine in 2005 began with a double bogey six down the 10th. But he is only too happy to rattle off everything that followed.

He continued: “On 11 I drove right, cut a low three-iron just over the back and chipped in. On 12 I went in the bunker and got up and down from a plugged lie.

“At 13 I was just past the pin in two and made the 20-foot putt for eagle. The next was a par, then on 15 I was just over the edge of the green and chipped in again for eagle.

“I almost made a hole-in-one at 16 and birdied from a couple of feet, 17 was a solid par and on 18 I drove in the trees on the right, chipped out, hit an eight-iron to six feet and made it for par.”

It remains his best finish, but every trip has added to the 33-year-old’s knowledge.

He explained: “I feel like I know what I need to know to be successful – places where I need to be and not to be – and the good feelings I had at the Matchplay are still there I think.

“I’ve been working hard and working on the right stuff – I think I am ready to go.”

Donald has not played a tournament for the last two weeks and admits he took a slight gamble in that, but he made an advance trip to Augusta and did not want to overdo things.

“I was here for two days and it was productive in terms of just getting a feel for the course again,” he said.

“It was playing slower, but you still visualise the shots and just feel you don’t have to do as much leading up to the event.”

World No 1 Martin Kaymer makes Donald his favourite for the title on Sunday.

“I saw that,” smiled Donald. “Maybe it’s because I was the last guy to beat him.”

They met in the final of the Matchplay and Kaymer could not believe how good his Ryder Cup team-mate’s short game had been.

Donald continued: “I think I’ve got a good chance. You always come here trying to win and it’s about going out relaxed and letting it happen. Not to get in your own way.

“These greens are like nothing we play. A good short game is helpful, but you’ve still got to make the putts.”