Rory McIlroy will be hoping for a swift revival in fortunes when the European Tour returns to European soil with the Andalucian Open in southern Spain.
McIlroy, who made his professional debut last October, has suffered a brief dip in form in recent weeks, missing three straight cuts as the tour made its way around the Middle East and Asia.
And the Co Down teenager, who has made no secret of his desire to be involved in September's Ryder Cup, is keen to arrest a string of results that have seen him slide down the Order of Merit to 121st ahead of tomorrow's event.
McIlroy will be joined in the field by mentor Darren Clarke, while Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane will also tee it up at the Aloha club.
Local interest, meanwhile, is sure to centre on the return to action of Jose Maria Olazabal. Having spent 18 months out of the game in the mid-1990s, the double Masters champion has been out of action for seven months this time with more rheumatism problems.
"When you have pain and a total lack of mobility you hit bottom, for sure," said Olazabal on the eve of the.
Asked if he had thought he might be forced into retirement, he added: "September, October, November, December. Do you want me to go on? It's been very painful, and I still don't feel great. But I'm better than I have been for the last few months, and that is a positive sign.
"If everything follows on track then that's all I am hoping for. I'm not concerned about results at the moment. I'm taking an injection every two months - and now I am here to see how I can cope with competition."
Lee Westwood has flown from America to defend the title and will, of course, be heading back across the Atlantic for The Masters.
Five others who competed in last week's CA world championship in Miami - Miguel Angel Jimenez, Anders Hansen, Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson and Anton Haig - are also in the field.
Hanson and Welshman Bradley Dredge both need to win the title on Sunday for a chance of jumping into the world's top 50 just in time to earn a place in The Masters.
