Sergio Garcia is looking forward to making his tournament debut at this week's Italian Open.
The Masters Tournament winner is taking part in the Rolex Series event for the first time at Golf Club Milano and hopes to benefit from similar conditions to those he grew up with.
"Obviously it's a nice stretch with playing here in Italy and Spain next week, our tournament with my foundation," Garcia said.
"I've never played in Italy as a professional so I'm excited about it. I've played here many times as an amateur.
"I've heard good things about it so I'm very excited to have a nice week here. Amazing weather, and the food, so it's all good.
"The weather is very similar to Spain, food is very good like in Spain and even the looks of the towns is similar to where I grew up."
"You can see by the quality of the field that it's extremely good," - Sergio Garcia
Garcia faces some stiff opposition in Milan, where a star-studded field has assembled.
And the 37 year old admits he is keen to join compatriots Jon Rahm and Rafa Cabrera-Bello in becoming a Rolex Series winner, with the pair having claimed victory in Ireland and Scotland respectively.
"You can see by the quality of the field that it's extremely good," added World Number 11 Garcia.
Asked which Rolex Series win he had been most impressed by, he added: "I would probably choose one of the Spanish ones. Jon obviously played great in Ireland but Rafa's was really good, the way he played in the last round and in the play-off was quite spectacular."
World Number Five Rahm is enjoying a remarkable first full year as a professional, and along with Garcia has a chance to overhaul Tommy Fleetwood at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex this week.
"He's Spanish, he's European and he's going to be a great asset to us in the Ryder Cup," Garcia said of his compatriot. "It's great to see him here and next week in Valderrama."
