SERGIO GARCIA'Sprediction that finding love off the course would rekindle his romance with the big events proved spot on as he cruised to victory in the Dubai Desert Classic.
Garcia announced his engagement to American girlfriend Angela Akins on the eve of the tournament, his 250th European Tour start.
The mood of celebration continued as he quickly took command, with rounds of 65-67 to establish a three shot lead at halfway, and he maintained that advantage over world No 4 Henrik Stenson in impressive style.
Garcia, 37, kept the Open champion at arms length with a bogey free 69 to finish on 19 under. His 12th victory on this side of the Atlantic his first in two years - will lift back into the top ten of the world rankings.
His wedding is planned for the week after the Open at Birkdale in July, and in this form he could give himself the perfect early present by finally landing that elusive first Major title.
The Spaniard has also felt the Claret Jug represents his best chance of breaking his duck he has finished runner-up twice in the Open, and has also chalked up EIGHT other top ten finishes.
There have also been five more near-misses in the other Majors, and with Garcias suspect putting starting to look more reliable, he will surely contend again this year.
He said: This always promised to be a great year and this is a fantastic way to kick things off.
I'm excited as I've ever been and looking forward to lots more reasons to celebrate. hopefully a great year.
We're both very excited about the future, what the future holds, and I think being comfortable in your private life is a good thing.
To have no worries about anything , when you're out there is great, as long as you're still hungry and you still want to achieve things.
If you get too comfortable, you stop practicing and things like that, then it can be dangerous. But I still love playing the game and I still get driven by it, so I'm sure that won't be the case.
And even if I try, Angela wouldn't allow me to. So I don't have a problem there."
With Ian Poulter stumbling to a closing 76 after setting out in a share of third place, it was left to young bucks and Matthew Fitzpatrick Tyrrell Hatton to lead the English challenge just as they did when they finished 1-2 in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November.
The roles were reversed this time, with Hattons 67 carrying him into a share of third place with Denmarks Lasse Jensen, while Fitzpatrick was a shot further back in a tie for fifth with Peter Uihlein.