'Everybody I've spoken to that's been down here said it's a fantastic setting. You're obviously right in the middle of nature here. Anything is likely to creep or crawl out of the bushes and you have to keep your eye on that,' said Westwood ahead of Thursday's first round.

'But it's nice. We don't get to play many events in Africa and South Africa. It's a long time since I?ve been down here so it?s nice to be back.'

Westwood is no stranger to South Africa, having played several events here before and been a winner on the Sunshine Tour. But a tournament at the famed Leopard Creek course owned by Johann Rupert had always eluded him, until now.

'I've been looking forward to coming down here for some time. I've known Johann for a few years now and he's always been saying how good it is. I've always wanted to come down here and play in his event, and this was a good opportunity to do so.

'I enjoy the people in South Africa. The hospitality is always great, and there are some great golf courses down here. It's somewhere I always love coming.'

Westwood arrived at Leopard Creek on the back of a year of mixed results.

'It's been a pretty good year for me,' said Westwood. 'I feel like I've played quite consistently. I had a bad run in the middle where I missed seven cuts in a row, but not by much. I obviously played well in the Ryder Cup and had a few top tens towards the end of the year.'

Westwood will tee it up alongside rising young South African stars Charl Schwartzel and Anton Haig in Thursday?s first round. Schwartzel is one of the favourites for the title this week. In his last two Alfred Dunhill Championship tournaments here he's finished first and second.

Ernie Els is also back to defend the title he won in only his second tournament back from injury last December.