Kuchar seeks hot start in desert

The American gets his season under way in the California desert this week as he contests the Humana Challenge - previously known as the Bob Hope - at La Quinta Country Club.

The world number 11 has a strong record there having finished runner-up in 2010 and seventh last year.

"I like these courses. I feel like they're straightforward, there's a lot of opportunities to score. I feel like I drive the ball well, I put myself in position to take advantage of wedges and my wedge game's generally pretty good."
Kuchar on La Quinta Quotes of the week

"It's been five or six years now that I've started my year by coming out here early, doing some practising out in the desert. I think it's just a great place to get ready for the year," Kuchar said.

"Normally I come out here before the Hawaii tournaments, but this year I took a little extra time off, as it felt like the off-season was extra short with the Presidents Cup being in the middle of November, and I kept playing through into December, so my off-season was really short this year.

"I decided to start my year here instead of in Hawaii and am real excited."

The pro-am event has a change of format this year. Rather than the five rounds of previous years, where players have played in groups of four made up of one professional and three amateurs,

This year the tournament is played over four rounds, one each at the La Quinta, Palmer and Nicklaus courses before the final round is also played on the Palmer course.

Each group will consist of two professionals and two amateurs - a set-up which Kuchar prefers - and the professionals will go it alone on the final 18 holes.

Good fit

"I think I'm a good fit for the format, and I think everybody is going to like the new format even better," he said.

"It's been great to see the tour make these tweaks, and I think this tournament has all of a sudden become a sought-after and exciting event.

"I'm really looking forward to continuing the tradition of coming out here and seeing this event get better and better."

Not only does the format please the 33-year-old, but he also believes the three courses suit his style of play.

He added: "I like these courses. I feel like they're straightforward, there's a lot of opportunities to score. I feel like I drive the ball well, I put myself in position to take advantage of wedges and my wedge game's generally pretty good."

He added: "I was close last year and I had a couple of good chances to win.

"Some guys just played some amazing golf and I couldn't catch them. I would like to definitely get a win this year and hopefully have a year with multiple wins. But looking back on it (2011), it was a good year, I learnt a lot."

Kuchar's first appearance of the season is alongside an impressive field which includes defending champion Jhonattan Vegas, two-time former event winner Phil Mickelson, 2010 winner Bill Haas, former USPGA champion David Toms and former Masters champion Zach Johnson.