British Masters operations director Rory Colville is relishing the European Tour returning to The Grove for the first time in 10 years.

The venue close to Watford last hosted a tour event in 2006 when Tiger Woods won the World Golf Championship, American Express Championship with a score of 23-under-par.

Colville says the success of that tournament, coupled with The Grove’s popularity among players, means this week’s return to the venue is eagerly anticipated.

“When we were here 10 years ago the course proved to be very, very popular with the players and the tournament was a huge success on all fronts,” Colville said last week.

“In some respects we have been looking for a reason to get back to The Grove and it is great that the British Masters has given us the opportunity to do that this year.

“It is inside the M25 which is unique for a golf tournament and offers opportunities being so close to London. We are really excited to be back on the edge of Watford.”

Luke Donald will host the tournament and has echoed Colville’s views on the course being a good fit for players and fans alike.

Colville says The Grove is the ideal place for the Hemel Hempstead-born former world number one to host.

He said: “He rated it very highly when he played here before, loves the course and it was a natural fit for him to host here.”

The finishing touches have been put in place by 150 separate contractors and much of Colville’s pre-tournament focus was on ensuring fans are given the optimum viewing experience.

With this in mind, regular visitors to The Grove will recognise one particularly obvious modification, which sees the ninth hole become the 18th for the tournament and vice versa.

Once again the success of 2006 played a role in the decision to flip The Grove’s usual order of play, as Colville explains.

“It is a course that is great for spectators. We have flipped the nine holes so we can have more space on the right hand side of the 18th hole,” he said.

“We have been able to build more infrastructure around the 18th and have a grandstand there as well as sponsor hospitality.

“A lot of things worked well in 2006, so we were lucky to be able to take an event plan out of the files and try and re-run it for the British Masters.

“From a playing point of view, it is a great finishing hole. Ten years ago we saw Tiger eagle the 18th on the first three days and lip out on the fourth, so it makes sense to finish on such a dramatic hole.”

Having returned to the European Tour at Woburn last year, The Grove has been tasked with replicating the success of 2015’s British Masters.

Colville stressed the importance of building on last year’s tournament and is eager to ensure The Grove lives up to the billing of a European Tour course.

“We were delighted with how it went up at Woburn with Ian Poulter as host and we are really keen to build on that,” Colville said.

“All the infrastructure is in place for the public, the players, the media and the sponsors. The final few days now are really about dressing it and making sure The Grove looks the part.”

The absence of some big-name players, including Rory McIlroy and Henrik Stenson, as well as Justin Rose’s late withdrawal could be viewed as a disappointment by some.

However, Colville insists focus should be on those playing rather than those who aren’t and is convinced by the strength of the field.

“While one or two of the bigger players might not be playing, we have enough to be very proud of and to give us a very entertaining week of golf,” he said.

“We are very, very pleased with the field we have got. We have got some of the Ryder Cup team playing and that should be exciting for people to see.

“Some of the guys who didn’t make the Ryder Cup like Andrew Johnston, Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry are there as well.

“I think in terms of world golf ranking it is probably better than last year and to have Luke Donald, who is such a high profile player, hosting is going to add to the event.”