This week marks a milestone of great signifiance for Sergio Garcia.

When the 2017 Masters Tournament Champion tees it up this week, he will officially become the Spaniard with the most Ryder Cup appearances, overtaking his legendary compatriot Seve Ballesteros. Thomas Bjørn's decision to select Garcia means he will make his ninth Ryder Cup appearance for Team Europe, an impressive feat that began at the 1999 edition at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Apart from in 2010, when Garcia was vice-captain at Celtic Manor, he has gone on to appear in every Ryder Cup since his debut. He has claimed 22.5 points in total for Europe, including four out of a possible four points over the first two days of The 2006 Ryder Cup, becoming only the second man after Ian Woosnam to achieve the feat.

Garcia, who wasn't born when Ballesteros made his first Ryder Cup appearance in 1979, will undoubtedly be a proud man when he tees off this week and in the process overtakes one of his idols to become the leading Spanish appearance maker in Ryder Cup history.