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Cape Town - Major champion Sergio Garcia has confirmed he will make his debut appearance at the Open de France, the third of eight events on the European Tour's Race to Dubai.
The Spaniard becoming the latest player to join the star-studded field at Le Golf National, from June 28-July 1.
The world No 14 will make his first start in France since finishing tied fifth in the 2002 Trophée Lancôme - a tournament he won the year prior - and his return to Paris for one of continental Europe's oldest and most celebrated golf tournaments comes as France prepares to host the 42nd edition of the Ryder Cup at the same venue on September 28-30, 2018.
The 38-year-old, who overcame Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta National in April last year to win the Masters, is looking to gather as much knowledge as possible of the renowned Albatros Course as he targets a ninth consecutive appearance for Team Europe.
"I'm looking forward to playing the Open de France for the first time in my career," said the 14-time European Tour winner.
"I know it's going to bring a great field and be an incredible tournament for the French fans in the lead up to the Ryder Cup. I have heard amazing things about Le Golf National from my fellow players over the years, and with the Ryder Cup being played there in September I wanted to make sure that I know the golf course very well because one of my biggest goals of the year is to make Thomas' team to try and win that Ryder Cup Trophy back.
"But, like I said I need to make the team first of all and if I can have a really strong week at the Open de France then that will go a long way to helping me make it because of the amount of Ryder Cup qualification and World Ranking points on offer that week."
Garcia will be joined in the field by world No 1 Justin Thomas, who last month confirmed his Open de France debut, along with defending champion and Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood, and world No 4 Jon Rahm.
