The golfer left his native Venezuela when he was 17 years old and hasn’t been back for the last decade as he is a target for kidnappers and has been outspoken about the political climate.

He told Bunkered magazine: “It’s not safe. It’s risky.

“I’ve been very outspoken against the government and the fear of passports being taken away or anything like that, it’s always out there.

“It’s not a risk that I’m willing to take, especially with family and kids…

“There’s nothing better than feeling your own country’s support.

“I just haven’t been able to do that or celebrate any of my victories with them and it kind of sucks, to be honest.

The 41-year-old sportsman hopes he will be able to take his young children with him to Venezuela one day.

He said: “That’s something we’ve talked about.

“We remind them of their roots.

“Even though they were born in America, we try to make them feel like they’re Venezuelans as well.

“They speak the language. We show them videos and everything about Venezuela so they can grow up with that connection.”