Richard Sterne was set to resume the Dubai Desert Classic in joint fourth place after his opening 66 - and happy to be playing golf again.
While fellow South Africans Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel have won major titles 30-year-old Sterne has been fighting a battle with arthritis.
A five-time winner on the European Tour between 2004 and 2009, the Pretoria player made just four appearances the following year - all in his home country - and the same number last year.
When Sterne competed at the Africa Open last month it was his first Tour event for 11 months, yet he finished in sixth place and even managed a third round 64.
The field this week is far stronger - three of the world's top four in Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - so to be on the leaderboard again has certainly put a smile on his face.
"I've got some disc issues and arthritic problems, but hopefully I'm on the right medication for that now," he said.
"I tried to play a few times last year, but the pain was just too severe and it was affecting my swing.
"I've had a lot of physio to try to strengthen up my body in general and I feel I'm fit enough to play at the moment."
Oosthuizen, a year younger than Sterne, ran away with The Open at St Andrews in 2010 and last April 27-year-old Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to win The Masters at Augusta.
"The guys doing so well has given me the determination to try to follow them and do something spectacular at some stage," Sterne told European Tour radio.
Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello led overnight at the Emirates Club following a nine under par 63, two better than Scotland's Scott Jamieson and German Marcel Siem.
Alongside Sterne were 2009 winner McIlroy, 2001 winner Thomas Bjorn, 2010 USPGA champion Kaymer, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and French pair Romain Wattel and Gregory Bourdy.
Lee Westwood teed off again on three under and Abu Dhabi winner Robert Rock one over.
