Coetzee not playing the expectation game in Vilamoura

George Coetzee is trying to not put any extra pressure on himself as he returns to Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course as the defending champion for the 2021 Portugal Masters.

The five time European Tour winner is no stranger to winning the same event twice, having achieved that feat at the Tshwane Open in 2015 and 2018, although he is yet to successfully defend a title.

The South African has registered only two top tens since that victory but insists he will just let the golf do the talking this week.

"I'm very happy to be back and excited to play the golf course again," he said.

"As I walk, I can't remember every hole from last year but it also comes with a bit of expectation and I'm just trying to dampen it down a little bit and just try and play golf.

"I know I've just got to play golf and try and avoid thinking about all the other stuff and just try and find my flow and enjoy the golf again.

"It's obviously tricky having won here last year and the expectations are pretty high.

"It's still golf. I just played a horrible nine holes and hopefully the next nine holes will be better."

I know I've just to play golf and try and avoid thinking about all the other stuff and just try and find my flow and enjoy the golf again

Coetzee birdied the 16th and 17th in a bogey free 66 to take the title last September but believes the layout will provide a different test later in the year.

"My fondest memory is the tee shot on 18," he said. "I keep thinking - birdie on 16 and 17 last year was quite big but it's not like I was trying to birdie them, I was just playing golf and I think that's kind of the point to the whole purpose.

"It's cold. The course is looking good, the greens are looking great.

"It is definitely a different kind of rough this year and the surface, I don't know what it is, it just feels a bit more sandy, but the golf course is looking in really good nick so it should be a good fun week."