Sergio Garcia is looking forward to seeing bumper crowds at his favourite place as he welcomes the European Tour to the Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
Real Club Valderrama has a rich history on the European Tour having hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup and a number of big events down the years.
Both previous editions of the Andalacia Masters were held here, with Garcia becoming the first Spaniard to win a strokeplay event over the layout in the last staging in 2011.
Andrew Johnston was victorious here last season when Valderrama hosted the Open de España - also with Garcia's foundation - and the reigning Masters Tournament champion is excited by the prospect of another great week.
"This is my favourite golf course ever and it’s the kind of golf course that even though it’s not long, it challenges you," he said. "It’s tight and it’s always asking you to hit good shots, all kinds of shots.
"They are small greens so your iron play has to be spot on and if you miss the greens it’s tricky. It’s just a great, solid golf course.
"I’m sure the support will be great this week. Obviously I played in Munich earlier this year and it was the first time I played in Europe since the Masters and I got an amazing reception, so I’m sure this week will be no different.
"The pressure is still the same this week as any week, trying to do well and, yes, maybe trying to perform in front of my home crowds. It’s as simple as that."
While Garcia's focus from Thursday will be on victory and closing the gap on leader Tommy Fleetwood in the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex, off the course his foundation team will be working hard.
This is my favourite golf course ever - Sergio Garcia
All funds raised during tournament week will go towards an interior design project aimed at humanising the X-ray unit of the Hospital Universitario La Paz with the objective of improving the emotional well-being of patients and their families.
Garcia set up his charitable foundation in 2002 for the purpose of contributing to the social inclusion of economically-deprived children through social assistance benefits and the practice of sport as free-time activity.
"I’m very proud this week," he said. "To have a tournament hosted by your foundation is something amazing but to have it at Valderrama is spectacular.
"We’re really happy, really proud of it and hopefully it will be a great tournament which everybody will enjoy."
