Sergio Garcia aims to maintain high standards in Alps

World number 10 Sergio Garcia makes a long-awaited return to the Omega European Masters this week looking to maintain his excellent record in the Swiss Alps.

The Spaniard, who has a home in Crans Montana, has finished in the top four on his last three visits but has not played there for nine years because of scheduling clashes on the PGA Tour.

He arrived on the back of a top-10 finish at The Open, which finished on a Monday for only the second time in its history, looking to revisit his win of 2005.

“I played very well in tough conditions at St Andrews, it was a long week so I’m feeling a bit tired now, but I’m sure I’ll be ready to go tomorrow,” he said.

“The date helped me to come back – pretty much as simple as that.

“I enjoy playing here and the house helps but in its original date it was against the FedEx Cup in America so that made it tricky but it’s great to have been able to return.

“I think it’s a fun golf course but not a long course due to the altitude.

“The greens are not very big so if you are hitting your irons well you are going to give yourself a lot of birdie chances. It’s totally different to last week, that’s for sure. The weather is fine and the ball is going absolutely miles here compared to going nowhere last week in Scotland.”

Garcia’s Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood is also teeing it up at the Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club for the first time since 2011.

“It’s such a great place here, especially at this time of year,” said the 1999 champion. “The change of date is a very good move and the course looks in great condition.

“They’ve made a few changes to the place since I was last here, most notably to the par-three 13th, but they haven’t tampered too much with Seve’s (Ballesteros) redesign.

“The course was a lot easier before Seve made his changes, the greens were much softer and the scoring was very low so it’s quite a stern test these days, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.”