Alvaro Quiros is hoping to benefit from home advantage as he looks to recapture his best form at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.
The 27 year old Spaniard currently lies 12th in The Race to Dubai standings and is determined to produce a strong showing this week to boost his chances of securing a share of the bonus pool available to the leading 15 players at the end of the season.
Quiros finished 57th in his last outing at the Portugal Masters a fortnight ago, but did manage to tie for fifth in the previous week’s event - the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship - and is optimistic about his chances in Sotogrande.
“I am really looking forward to playing at home,” he said. “It was great to play here in 2008 and this Andalucia Valderrama Masters will also be an important event.
“I have been struggling with my game for the last six months, just trying to survive, but two weeks ago I started playing better - although my putting is a bit yippy.
“The course is in great condition and the greens are very fast. Obviously this course is always perfect.
“I am comfortable at Valderrama and know the greens well. I should be able to finish in a good position without putting too well.
“I am aware that the greens are difficult. I don’t think anybody can play four straight rounds without a problem on these greens. We often find ourselves putting defensively.
“But for me, this will be an opportunity to get into the (top 15 of the) Race to Dubai.”
Quiros is keen to follow in the footsteps of Martin Kaymer, the current leader of The Race to Dubai who has a chance to take over as World Number One with a top-two finish at Valderrama.
Kaymer has been in sensational form in recent months, claiming his maiden major title at the US PGA Championship and following that up with back-to-back wins at the KLM Open and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Quiros is fulsome in his praise of the German and is hoping to maximise his talent in similar fashion over the coming months.
“Martin is an incredible player and we are very close friends,” he added. “His mindset and his attitude on course are just perfect. His game is not spectacular, but his putting certainly is, at least for the last two years.
“Martin and I are very different types of players: he is brainy, well aware of his limits and he takes full advantage of his strong points. He is living in a sweet moment and that reflects on his demeanour, on the way he walks.
“I, on the contrary, have not found that sweet moment yet. I struggle, but I give it my best effort. He takes advantage of 90% of his potential. I don’t even reach 75%.
“I am now striking the ball better, but when I play well I don’t putt well, and when I putt well I don’t play well. I conclude that when a player manages to put these two most important parts of his game together he becomes world number one.
“At present I am only trying to save shots. (Jose Maria) Olazábal explains it very well: on a rainy day you can only open your umbrella and wait for it to stop. That’s just what I am waiting for. It’s frustrating not to be able to play to my full potential.”
