In China, his opponents included Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood. None of these will be at Stone Cutters Golf Club on Thursday but Millar's intensity and desire for success won't be any different.

The Gold Creek member has set his sights on earning a place on the Japan Tour for 2017 and is clearly hungry to make it happen.

After the Australian Open at Royal Sydney this month Millar will forgo the Australian PGA Championship in December to compete in the Japan Tour Qualifying School.

"I'm keen to perform well in both [NSW and Australian Opens] and definitely try and win," Millar said. "I'm not just there to play and be out there."

"These will be my last two for the Australian Order of Merit for the season so I'm keen to fire up and play well."

In Shanghai he didn't play as well as he hoped but he is focused on the continued preparation for next season.

"It was just one of those golf courses last week, no excuses but it probably wasn't up my alley," Millar said.

"I didn't play well enough within myself but Stone Cutters will be a different kettle of fish, it's quite open in spots and it gives players of all levels a bit of a chance.

"You can do your own good work, whether you're a long hitter or not, it doesn't always favour one or the other."

Millar also played September's South Pacific Open in New Caledonia where he finished third.

"It was another one of our four round tournaments, they're all a good opportunity to be able to get out there and do some good work," he said. "They're the ones you play for, they're the ones you play to win."

If he is successful at the qualifying school this will allow Millar to play a large portion of the more than 20 tournaments throughout the 2017 Japan Tour.

"If I keep playing well and do what I do well and don't let anything external interfere with my game then I'm confident I can get through."