THEY say there's no place like home - and for Newport-based Phillip Price he will certainly be hoping that is the case this week.

Ryder Cup hero Price reckons this could well be the year that the Celtic Manor Wales Open gets a home winner - and he could well be the man to do it.

The 'Pontypridd putter' as he is affectionately known in Wales feels he is hitting form at just the right time and that this year's Celtic Manor Wentwood Hills course is set up 'perfectly' for his assault on the Wales Open.

After his practice round yesterday afternoon, he said: "The course is playing very nicely and is set up well for my game.

"It's much better this year, the rough is much thicker and the greens are very fast which suits me.

"It's a course I know well because I am only based 10 minutes away so I couldn't ask for more perfect preparation. But I'm always confident of doing well at the Welsh Open and having come fifth a couple of years ago and seventh last year then it is all set up for me this year.

"I'm really looking forward to it. It is the best field we have had up here so it sets it up nicely."

Price endured mixed fortunes at the Volvo PGA championships at Wentworth last weekend.

But the Ryder Cup hero is hoping that the combination of a boisterous local crowd as well as playing on a course he knows well, can help find more consistent form.

"I had a good Thursday and an excellent Friday," said Price. "But I was far from happy with the weekend, I just didn't play well and I just need to put four days of consistent golf together. Last year I had a big following and I'm sure that with ticket sales up I should have a lot of people shouting me on and that will be a real boost."