MASTERS champion Sergio is the first big name confirmed to line up alongside Lee Westwood in Close House later this year.

Westwood, the host of the upcoming British Masters at the Heddon-on-the-Wall resort between September 28 and October 1, was in the Tyne Valley this week to announce Garcia had accepted an invitation from his Ryder Cup teammate to return to the tournament for the first time since 1998.

Garcia, currently ranked fifth in the world, became just the third Spaniard to win a green jacket when he claimed his first major championship back in April, beating Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off to win the Augusta National.

The 37-year-old lies second in the European Tour's Race to Dubai rankings with two wins from his seven outings this year.

Garcia and Westwood have been friends since the Spaniard burst on the golfing scene as a one to watch in the late 1990s, and they have featured alongside each other in eight Ryder Cups.

Westwood participated in a charity event in Switzerland organised by Garcia, called Garcia and Friends, and the world number five is looking forward to repaying the favour when he plays in front of a British crowd again.

He said: "Lee came to play our charity event last year in Switzerland, so he made a great effort to come over there right after the Open Championship.

"He asked me if I would do the same thing for him for the British Masters and, obviously he is a good friend of mine, so I said yes.

"I'm excited about it. I played it as an amateur a couple of times and I have good memories.

"It should be fun to go back there and it seems like, in the last couple of years, the event has taken a big step forward. So we will try to have a great weekend at Close House."

Westwood, who has been attached professional at Close House since 2011 and has recently moved to the North-East, was chosen as the Masters host, following the footsteps of Ian Poulter and Luke Donald.

Garcia is the first, and certainly not the last, household name confirmed to tee off at Close House, with Westwood delighted to be able to announce it this week.

He said: "He is certainly a great addition to the tournament. The response so far from fans has been brilliant, and it's getting very well supported with sponsors.

"The field is shaping up nicely, so it will be a great week and I'm really looking forward to it."