Portugal Masters Sergio Garcia admits he sees this week's Portugal Masters as an excellent warm-up for next week's Ryder Cup - but that does not mean the Spaniard is not out to win. The 2017 Masters Tournament winner was handed a pick by Captain Thomas Bjørn and will tee it up in his ninth Ryder Cup at Le Golf National with the all-time points record for Europe in his sights. First, however, comes this week at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, and Garcia believes his Portugal Masters debut is the ideal preparation for the biennial spectacular. “I told Thomas, if you end up picking me, I'll make sure that I play something coming into the Ryder Cup,” he said. “I didn't want to be without playing for four or five weeks coming into such a big and amazing event. Portugal seemed like a good fit and I'm happy that I decided to come here. Obviously the course is nice, it's going to be a good test and I'm excited for it." Ricardo Gouveia will have his father on the bag at this week's Portugal Masters as the home favourite fights to save his playing privileges on the European Tour. The 27 year old finished top of the Challenge Tour Rankings in 2015 and followed that with a very respectable 54th on the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex in his rookie campaign on the European Tour. He needed the Access List to keep his card last season and currently sits 132nd, with four events left to get into the vital top 110, starting this week at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course. Gouveia has started working with coach Hugh Marr and also parted company with caddie Nick Mumford, with his father Tomas taking the bag for the rest of the season. Gouveia Snr was caddie for his son for some of his glorious 2015 season and after discussions with his brother Tomas - currently 20th on the Pro Golf Tour Order of Merit - Ricardo is glad to have his biggest supporter back on the bag.
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