Sergio Garcia will look to kick-start his 2015 season when he contests the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in California this week.

Garcia, who celebrated his 35th birthday last month, has struggled to find top form so far this year, finishing 46th in his defence of the Qatar Masters title and missing the cut the following week in the Dubai Desert Classic.

“I’m excited to be back here at Riviera,” Garcia told a press conference. “Obviously a wonderful tournament, great golf course and one that I’ve always enjoyed playing.

“I’m excited about it, and we’ll see what we are able to do. Probably not feeling at my best level at the moment. Start of the year has been a little bit slow. The last couple of weeks practice was okay but not amazing. Hopefully I can get some confidence as the tournaments go on and start to find my groove and my game.”

‘A little bit of everything’

Asked what part of his game needed work, the world number seven added: “I guess comparing it to last year, where I had such a nice consistent year where every part of my game felt really, really good, I guess a little bit of everything.

“I think that my long game, it’s been okay, but not to the standard that I usually have it. Short game, it’s been a little bit shakier than it has been in the past three or four years. I guess it’s just a matter of building up a little bit of confidence and getting into the rhythm and start doing good things.”

Defending champion

In contrast, defending champion

Bubba Watson

again comes into the event in good form, having finished second in the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the second year running on his last outing.

The world number three is the highest ranked player in the field and will be looking for a repeat of his performance 12 months ago, when he finished with consecutive rounds of 64 to win the title.