Sergio Garcia is hoping to create further Spanish history during the 100th edition of the KLM Open.
The 2017 Masters Tournament winner makes his debut at The International and will aim to follow in the footsteps of some European Tour greats.
Seve Ballesteros is in an elite group alongside Bernhard Langer and Simon Dyson to win the tournament three times since it became a European Tour event in 1972.
José María Olazábal, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño are other Spaniards to claim victory in the Netherlands and Garcia wants to make the most of a special week in Amsterdam.
“It is a country that I have never played in as a professional, and I played in Italy a couple of years ago for the first time as a pro, so I like to go to new places,” Garcia said.
“It was extra special this week being 100 years and with the connection to Seve, so it fitted nicely into the schedule.
Two legends of their sport 🧡#KLMOpen
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) September 11, 2019
“There is a lot of Spanish history with the event and hopefully we will have a good solid week and will try and have a good chance of winning on Sunday.”
The 15 time European Tour winner sits in 23rd place in the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex and Garcia has set his target of improving his position at his maiden KLM Open.
“I feel pretty good. I played pretty well for the most part in Crans, so hopefully we can keep going on that same line and keep the momentum going,” Garcia said.
“I played the front nine holes yesterday and it’s a nice course, it’s in good shape. It has a kind of links feel to it, with big greens and a lot of movement, so the course looks really nice.
“You have to be very accurate off the tee because otherwise you will get stuck in the high rough and now being wet, it will be a bit tougher.
“If I have a good week to move up the Race to Dubai that would be a nice thing to do, so it is one of the goals.”
