Without question, the 2001 season was the highlight of his career to date for Retief Goosen. As well as winning his first Major title, the US Open Championship at Southern Hills Country Club, the South African also finished top of the Volvo Order of Merit for the first time.
Victory in Oklahoma and in The Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond helped in his rise to the top, but Goosen was eventually able to call the Harry Vardon Trophy his own when he triumphed in the 2001 Telefonica Open de Madrid at Club de Campo.
Going into the event last year, Goosen held sway but was being closely pursued by Irishmen Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington. For Harrington in particular, the return to Club de Campo was one he relished, having won his maiden European Tour title there in the 1996 Peugeot Open de España as well as the 2000 BBVA Open Turespaña Masters Communidad de Madrid.
Things looked good for the Dubliner when he opened with a superb eight under par 63 to take the first round lead, but he could not maintain the momentum and eventually finished in a tie for 25th place.
Goosen, on the other hand, blossomed throughout the week. Opening rounds of 66-64 saw him one shot off the pace at the halfway stage, a third round 66 moved him into the lead before a closing 68 gave him a 20 under par total of 264.
Such a superb score, the lowest total recorded in the 20 year history of the tournament, would have been good enough to win most tournaments, but nobody told Steve Webster that fact, the Englishman closing with an excellent 66 to match Goosen's total.
Into the play-off, the first two holes were halved in par before Goosen grabbed glory at the third extra hole, the 167 yard 17th, where an exquisite nine iron to within eight feet of the cup, brought his winning birdie two.
"Last year I didn't know if I had it within me to stay strong towards the end of a Major, now I know I did," he said. "Winning the US Open Championship is one way towards a great confidence boost. So too, of course, is achieving Number One in Europe."
Now Goosen stands on the threshold of repeating his triumph and topping the Volvo Order of Merit again in 2002, and going into this year's Telefonica Open de Madrid, the South African currently leads the rankings with €2,299,070 (£1,451,772).
Nearest challenger in financial terms is his fellow countryman Ernie Els, but with the reigning Open Champion having announced he will not compete in any other European Tour events this year, following the birth of his son Ben a fortnight ago, the main threat to Goosen is, once again, third placed Harrington.
The Irishman, who took second place on the Volvo Order of Merit last year, made his intention to go one better this time crystal clear with victory in the dunhill links championship at St Andrews a fortnight ago, beating Eduardo Romero in a play-off to move to €2,245,041 (£1,417,655) in prizemoney, only €54,029 (£34,117) behind Goosen.
With €233,330 (£146,508) available for the winner at Club de Campo on Sunday, the incentives for both men are obvious.
Of course, the interest will not solely be focused on the top end of the Volvo Order of Merit, with several players around the cut off point at 115th place, keen for a good week to secure their playing privileges for next season and avoid a return to Spain in three weeks time for the Qualifying School.
All competitors in the 120 strong field are sure to enjoy their time at the Club de Campo course, one of the oldest and most celebrated in Spain.
It held the first of its eight Open de España's in 1957 when Max Faulkner, the 1951 Open Champion, won with an aggregate of 283, while other illustrious names to have triumphed over its fairways include Seve Ballesteros, Colin Montgomerie and Sam Torrance.
