Paul Casey believes the format for the Volvo World Match Play Championship makes it almost as difficult to win as when he was victorious in 2006.
The 13-time European Tour winner triumphed at Wentworth when the tournament was a straight knockout.
These days it starts with a group stage, followed by knockout golf at the weekend.
The 37 year old Englishman will play in the Mark McCormack Group alongside last month’s Ryder Cup participants Jamie Donaldson and Patrick Reed plus Sweden’s Jonas Blixt.
Casey, who begins his campaign against Donaldson, said: “It’s all very tough. Jamie is coming off a fantastic Ryder Cup. Patrick played well at The Ryder Cup, as well.
“Jonas, I've played with him many a time. And you just don't know; every guy in this field of 16 is very, very capable of winning this championship this week. With 18 holes of match play it's a little bit like a sprint.
“So you just don't know. The saving grace is the fact that we are now playing this kind of group format so you at least have three days here to get yourself into the knockout stages on the weekend, unlike the Match Play when I won it back in 2006, which was straight knockout; everything was on the line, every single putt, every single hole.
“You get more of a break this week but that doesn't make it that much easier. It’s still going to be a tough task.”
Casey, who recently became a father, goes into the Volvo World Match Play Championship with some confidence, having won last month’s KLM Open.
What is more, he understands this format suits him.
“I'm good at match play. I know that. The form is good. I'm feeling great about the game,” he enthused.
“Becoming a dad a few weeks ago is also something which puts this in perspective.
“So I'm going to go out there with a relaxed attitude. But you know, the fire will be in there and if I play good golf, I feel like I'm tough to beat but you never know what you're going to come up against.”
Casey says he and many other participants are pleased that the event is back in south-east England.
Last year the competition was at The Thracian Cliffs Golf and Beach Resort in Bulgaria but now it is at London Golf Club in Kent.
“Wentworth was the spiritual home of this tournament for so long; although it went away to some warmer climates, it's great to be back,” he added.
“I think the players are really looking forward to this week, and I think the spectators are going to turn out in force and hopefully it's going to be a legendary match play just like the years past that we had just down the road.”
