Sergio Garcia is hoping to kickstart a "big year" with a strong performance at the 2021 OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.
The 41-year-old endured a frustrating end to the 2020 Race to Dubai, having been forced to withdraw from the rescheduled 2020 Masters Tournament in November due to testing positive for coronavirus on the eve of the tournament.
The Spaniard returned to action on the other side of the Atlantic earlier this month, where he posted a tied for 11th finish in Hawaii, and the 2017 winner of this event is focused on hitting form at the right time on a loaded 2021 schedule, starting at Emirates Golf Club.
"Without a doubt, it's a big year, a lot of big tournaments to be played and obviously Ryder Cup and Olympics and Majors and you know, Race to Dubai. There's plenty to choose from. So I'm excited about it.
"Obviously had a decent finish to the year before we got COVID, but excited to hopefully get started well here."
Garcia, the leading scorer in Ryder Cup history, also highlighted his aim to be at Whistling Straits for the rearranged 2021 event in September.
"Yes, obviously it's something that I would love to be a part of, and not so much to add to my total but to add to Europe and I know that if I do that, it obviously adds to my total," the 16 time European Tour winner said.
"But at the end of the day, you all know how much I love The Ryder Cup and I would love to be a part of a few more. And that's obviously one of the biggest goals for the year."
Defending champion Lucas Herbert admitted he was still feeling the after effects of his play-off victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout 12 months ago and is relishing his return to the United Arab Emirates.
"It's pretty cool. To get your name on the trophy with those other names and then to see your photos of the other players that have won here and had success here, it is pretty cool to add to that list," Herbert said.
"Even in the last 12 months, it feels like I have won a European Tour Major. Everyone seems to recognise the fact that I have won the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic. It seems such an iconic event on the European Tour so it's pretty cool.
"The fact that I'm defending champion, it's just good vibes at this place. I've played well here in years gone by and feel like it's a golf course that sets up really well for me and a really cool skyline. There's so much to enjoy about this place.
"It's done a lot. My confident has gone sky high since I won here last year and I felt that powered me through the rest of the year. I just felt like I was a different golfer after winning here.
"The starts that you get off the back of winning this event then being a highly ranked player and Race to Dubai points and everything like that, I'm still feeling the following effects of it now. It's great.
"I'm good enough to win any week. If I feel like I'm not contending then probably something isn't going right with my game so I've got that inner confidence to know that's where I deserve to be every week and it's a nice feeling to come out here and have that."
