Hennie Otto is predicting a strong South African challenge as he goes in search of a third triumph at the 72° OPEN D'ITALIA presented by DAMIANI.
The 39 year old was victorious last year at Circolo Golf Torino but the tournament moves to Golf Club Milano this season, with the tree-lined parkland set up hosting for the first time since 1990.
And South African Otto, whose previous three European Tour wins have come in Italy and his homeland, believes that will suit both him and his countrymen taking part this week.
"It's always nice defending a tournament," he said. "The golf course is different, it's going to be very key to hit the fairways because there is a lot of positional play this week. If you do hit the fairways you're going to have short irons in but the par threes make up for it, there are pretty long par threes.
"This is a typical little Joburg (Johannesburg) golf course, bubbly golf course, tree lined, it feels a little bit like at home."
He added: "This (course) especially, the other ones are a bit different but I believe a few South Africans will do well this week."
Otto is yet to register a top ten on the European Tour this season but after winning this title in 2008 and last year, he is hoping to bring his best form to Italy once again.
"You always think about the wins," he said. "So I do the same things.
"I've been playing well, not scoring well, so it's just a matter of time for it to come together and normally it happens in Italy so we will see how it goes."
Otto is not the only person excited to be in Italy with 2009 Open Championship winner Stewart Cink visiting the country for the first time as he tees it up this week.
The American's season is over in his homeland and he is looking forward to taking in some culture as well as some tournament play on this side of the pond.
"I decided I didn't want to stay home and wait for the next season to begin so I picked up two tournaments here in Europe," he said.
"I've never been to Italy before so it just made sense for my schedule and I'm happy to be here.
"It's an appealing place. I don't know all that much about it having never been here but I see that there's quite a bit of character here and the people have this energy that is quite noticeable. It's a beautiful place and I'm having a nice time.
"My wife's here too so we will be going to visit Lake Como, we've already been into the city, we'll take in a football match so we're going to experience it."
