Sergio Garcia is desperate to return to the European Ryder Cup team and he is determined to use that hunger as motivation to qualify for this year's competition at Medinah.
Garcia has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup five times but he failed to qualify for the 2010 event at Celtic Manor. His poor form meant he was overlooked for a wildcard spot but he proved how valuable he could be to the team when he was drafted in as one of Colin Montgomerie's vice-captains.
Back-to-back victories on the European Tour late last year has helped Garcia fall in love with the sport once more and with his motivation back he is determined to be part of Jose Maria Olazabal's team for Medinah.
"You all know how much I love the Ryder Cup and how important it is to me," Garcia told reporters at Riviera Country Club.
"I would love to make that team and help my team mates retain the Cup. I'm as hungry as I was before, as hungry as I was trying in 2010 and as hungry as I was in any of the other ones that I managed to qualify for."
Olazabal was the overwhelming choice to succeed Montgomerie as European skipper and his fellow-countryman believes he will be a brilliant skipper.
"I think Jose is going to be an amazing captain. I've had him as a vice-captain, and he was great so I'm really looking forward to seeing him as a captain," he added.
"I just hope that we can all play as good as we know so we can help him win it."