If Ian Poulter were in charge of world golf, half the tournaments during the year would be match play.
As it is, there are only two, the second of which is the Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesin near Marbella.
Poulter, who begins his title defence against Australian John Senden in the first of the group games on Thursday, said: "I love the buzz of it.
"I love the fact that the holes tick away pretty quickly and I like looking straight at the guy you're playing.
"I like the pressure of you have to hole a putt to win the hole or halve the hole or you have to hole to make your opponent hole his.
"It's pretty cut-throat. You have to do something - it's black and white. If you miss you lose the hole. Dead simple.
"Stroke play just doesn't give you that mindset at all. The more match play we get to play the better."
What gets Poulter's juices flowing even more is that this is Ryder Cup year and he is currently outside the automatic qualifying spots.
"It's important for me to have a big week this week. I want to make the side more than ever - Ollie (Jose Maria Olazabal) is going to be an incredible captain," he said.
"I have a time-frame and a number of events which I need to play well in to make the side. I'm fully aware of what I do."
His chances of a repeat win are obviously enhanced by the fact that the world's top eight all turned down the tournament this time.
Last May Poulter delayed Luke Donald going to world No.1 - for only a week - by beating him in the final.
"We would love the strongest field possible, but schedules are difficult and I'm certainly looking at it as a week to be able to go out there and play well," he added.
