He is only 19, but Sergio Garcia has known for some time that to be a great golfer he must play in America.

This week, for only the fourth time, Garcia plays in a pro tournament in the United States. His appearance in the Buick Open will be a tune-up for next week's PGA Championship and possibly the final hurdle for his PGA Tour card.

"I've always said that I'd like to be a global player," Garcia said Wednesday before practice at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

"When I was young, I said if I wanted to be recognized as a good player I have to go to the States. ... Everything is big there."

Garcia, who has just gotten his driver's license and is looking forward to graduating high school, is still plenty young. And he's also plenty talented, as he's shown in Europe and America.

He's already getting tips from Tiger Woods, less on golf than in handling sudden fame. Garcia has a shot at making the European Ryder Cup team, and a top-10 finish this week in the Buick would all but guarantee the Spaniard a PGA Tour card for next year.

Garcia appears to thrive on the parkland courses common to the PGA Tour and has had trouble on the windswept links courses of Europe.

He tied for 38th at this year's Masters, tied for third at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic and tied for 11th at the Memorial Tournament.

He's won more than $200,000 on the PGA Tour, placing him 128th on the U.S. money list. He needs to finish the year 125th or better to secure his card for next year.

"I want to be recognized as Sergio Garcia, not a European Tiger Woods," Garcia said, speaking slightly accented but fluent English. He has studied English since he was 9.

He plays an exciting brand of golf, a long-driving, go-for-the-pin approach, and he can rack up birdies in a hurry. He said he's starting to be recognized in public and so far enjoys signing autographs.

He'd surely get a different view from the besieged Woods, who is skipping this week's event to prepare for the PGA at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago.

Garcia is not yet ready to choose between Europe and the United States. He's also exploring tournament opportunities in Asia. But his words suggest a tilt toward America. He likes the courses, the competition, the money and the exposure.

At last month's British Open, where he shot 89-83 to miss the cut, Garcia said he preferred U.S. courses. On those courses, a straight drive is rewarded; on links courses, bumps, swales and blind shots can kick a straight drive into trouble.

The Buick Open, with a $2.4 million purse and $432,000 first prize, is important because of its proximity to the PGA Championship and next month's Ryder Cup in Brookline, Mass.

Ben Crenshaw, the U.S. captain, will make his final two picks following the PGA, with the other team positions based on tournament performance.

As a result, the field features such big names as two-time Masters champion José Maria Olazábal, Ernie Els, Justin Leonard and defending champion Billy Mayfair.

U.S. Ryder Cup aspirants in the field include Jim Furyk, Jeff Maggert, Chris Perry, Steve Stricker and John Huston.