Francesco Molinari insists he does not feel any extra pressure as he goes in search of back-to-back Rolex Series wins on home soil at the Italian Open.
The 35 year old claimed a brilliant win at last week's BMW PGA Championship and arrives at Gardagolf Country Club as many people's favourite to join Jon Rahm as a multiple winner of Rolex Series events.
With two wins and four further top tens - including last season - at his home Open, there is little to suggest that that favouritism is misplaced, but Molinari will be not be weighed down by expectations on the shore of Lake Garda.
"I don't think it's going to make a massive difference," he said. "Obviously the expectations would have been high anyway, so I was glad to get the win last week. Now we just play and start again and I'll try to be ready for tomorrow.
"It's been an intense couple of days but it's great. I reflect on it and I'm really proud of the way I performed over the weekend.
"It's great to be here now in Italy, coming off of that, and I hope that I make the most of the high and have another good week this week."
Whether things go his way on the course or not, Molinari is delighted to be back in his home country where he has performed so well in recent seasons.
The Turin native has missed just one Italian Open since 2000 and was in the field 15 years ago when the event was last played here by Lake Garda.
I enjoy the home support and it's great to see all the crowd getting behind you - Francesco Molinari
He missed the cut that week as an amateur but has made all but one weekend since turning professional and cannot wait to perform again in front of his home crowd.
"I love it," he said. "It's one of my favourite events of the year. To get the support of the crowd and obviously we have a new venue this year, I'm looking forward to the week. I'll see how well I've recovered from last week's effort but I'll do as good as I can.
"I enjoy the home support and it's great to see all the crowd getting behind you. Obviously it's a little bit of pressure but I've been managing that well in the past and I'm looking forward to that again this year."
Another man who will have plenty of home support is Matteo Manassero.
The 25 year old grew up learning the game at Gardagolf and could not be happier to see the Italian Open return to his home club.
"I'm pleased and proud," he said. "Those are the right words because I've been here when I was four and when I was ten to watch the Italian Open and always dreamed of being here as a professional playing in it.
"So I'm proud that I'm here, proud for what I've done these few years and really pleased that I'm here, really pleased that the Italian Open is here. I really hope everybody is going to enjoy it, I will, that's the way I want to go about this week."
