Portugal Masters: Defending champion David Lynn hoping to draw on winning memories

David Lynn is hoping a return to the scene of his last victory will help him rediscover his best form ahead of this week's Portugal Masters.

The 40-year-old captured the title at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club 12 months ago as he enjoyed an impressive series of performances on both the European and PGA Tours.

But Lynn's results have taken an alarming dip in 2014, and his best finish of the season was a tie for 21st place at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland last month.

He admits that trying to combine events on both sides of the Atlantic has not helped him find any consistency, but he believes a return to familiar and successful surroundings could be of benefit this week.

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"You see the shots you were hitting last year and relive those moments," he told European Tour radio. "I am hoping there is going to be some sort of inspiration again to get me going this week.

"I suppose there is a little bit of extra pressure (as defending champion) but every week comes with its own pressure as you put pressure on yourself to perform week in, week out so I'd like to perform again this week.

"I've not played an awful lot of golf this year, it is my 13th event in Europe so it is to be expected to find myself down the Order of Merit (he is 108th).

"But this week if I can find a bit of inspiration from last year and crack on who knows, maybe I could go back to back."

This week if I can find a bit of inspiration from last year and crack on who knows, maybe I could go back to back.

Italian Francesco Molinari is another player searching for some form after missing out on a third straight Ryder Cup appearance and he has an excellent record at Oceanico Victoria, having never finished worse than 38th in seven starts and being runner-up in 2009 and 2010.

"I feel I've been playing okay all year but not getting the scores I'd like, so it's time to push on and to try to have a good, strong finish to the year," said the 31-year-old, who has missed only two cuts on the European Tour but has recorded just two top-ten finishes.

"That's what I'm going to try to do from this week onwards."

Tune in to Sky Sports 4 from 11.30am on Thursday morning for live first-round coverage of the Portugal Masters.