The venue may be different, but Marcel Siem is still “pumped” for the defence of his Italian Open title.
Last year, the German completed a remarkable comeback, overcoming Tom McKibbin in a play-off in just his fourth tournament after hip surgery.
It was his sixth DP World Tour victory and second in the space of 16 months after ending an eight-and-a-half year wait to return to the winner’s circle at the Hero Indian Open in 2023.
But with the Italian Open moving from Adriatic Golf Club Cervia to Argentario GC for the first time this year, Siem is faced with mastering a new challenge.
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Nevertheless, that is something the 44-year-old has become accustomed to, having rarely been able to make a DP World Tour title defence at the same venue where he won.
“It’s always a special feeling to be able to defend your title,” said Siem, who was sidelined for his title defence in India last year through injury.
“The last four weeks have been quite exciting, talking to my coaches and family about how I’m going to approach this. A few ideas.
"But at the end of the day, I’ll come here and try and do the same as I always do.
“(A different venue) weakens the feeling a little bit, because when you walk on the first tee or play the 18th there’s a different feeling because all the crazy memories come back up.
“[But] It’s something special and tomorrow morning on the first tee will be very, very cool.”
After struggling for form earlier this season, Siem is 22nd on the European Swing Rankings and arrives in Italy refreshed after a two-week break since the KLM Open.
A week earlier, he registered his best finish of the campaign so far with a tie for fifth at the Austrian Alpine Open presented by SalzburgerLand and he intends to entertain the Italian crowds with his trademark charisma.
"(Not being so emotional) didn’t help so far the last few tournaments. I’m trying my best," said Siem, who sits 74th in the season-long Race to Dubai Rankings.
"If you look at the stats, not many people achieve the goal of defending their titles. I’m going to try, I’d be stupid to say I’m not pumped about it.
"But so many little things have to go right to win a golf tournament, maybe luck is on my side again and we’ll see."
An ever-present on the DP World Tour schedule since its inception in 1972, the Italian Open is being staged in Tuscany for the first time in 42 years.
Back then, it was Siem’s countryman and European great Bernhard Langer who won, which he hopes will be a good omen.
“Let’s do it Bernhard, send me some good vibes,” he joked.
Siem will play alongside Italian star Guido Migliozzi and France's Martin Couvra, who won his first DP World Tour title in his rookie season at the Turkish Airlines Open last month, over the opening two rounds.
