WORCESTERSHIRE golf ace John Bickerton has opted for the sun of Dubai rather than the rain of Droitwich as he prepares for the new season.

The Spa professional, aged 34, has been warming up for the PGA European Tour with a trip to the Middle East ahead of his first event -- the Johnnie Walker Classic, which starts in Bangkok on Thursday, January 29.

It is part of a spell that will see him play tournaments in Australia, Malaysia and Qatar before returning to England in March.

Bickerton, who will play around 25 events this season, ended last year on a high by finishing fourth in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain. He won £119,609 for his efforts, just under a third of his earnings all year, and hit a hole in one in the process.

That result also propelled him up 14 places to 38th on the Volvo Order of Merit.

Speaking from his Dubai base, Bickerton said: "My main ambition as always is to do the best I can in all events. It would be nice to improve on last year so I guess that would be my immediate target.

"My preparation this year obviously has been in a warmer climate, but I have done a lot more physical work."