Paul Lawrie leading at Castelló, but Rory McIlroy unexceptional in Egypt
Paul Lawrie is the early leader at the Castelló Masters today, the Scot carding a flawless round of seven birdies to come home seven-under par 64 on his opening round in Valencia.
The Club de Campo del Mediterráneo plays host to the likes of Sergio Garcia and José María Olazábal this week, where both men are attempting to make comebacks of a sort. But Lawrie, too, will be delighted with a good start here; the 41-year-old, most famous for winning the 1999 Open Championship at Jean Van de Velde's expense, is without a win since 2002.
Lawrie is two strokes ahead of nearest rival Jean-Baptiste Gonnet, in second place on five-under, with another Frenchman, Grégory Bourdy, tied for third place along with Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez and Denmark's Jeppe Huldahl, all on four-under. Italy's Matteo Manassero had a good opener too, the 17-year-old finishing on three-under.
But of the home favourites, the news wasn't so encouraging. Sergio Garcia was making his first appearance after a two month break, and the 30-year-old had spoken of his rediscovered passion for the game in the run up to this tournament.
Certainly, at a course that Garcia knows well, winning here in 2008, the player would have probably been hoping for a somewhat more eye-catching start. Garcia is currently tied for 56th place, on level par 71 after a double bogey on the 16th marred the Spaniard's return.
While Garcia's ambition is to eventually claim the world No. 1 spot, José María Olazábal has had to recalibrate his expectations in recent years. Making just his second start this year as a consequence of the arthritis that has bedeviled the two-time Masters winner on and off for the last decade and a half, Olazábal is seeking only to make the cut this weekend.
Having finished two-over-par 73 today, even that humble goal may prove beyond the man many believe will lead Europe in the Ryder Cup in 2012. But maybe Olazábal, and for that matter Garcia too, will be able to improve upon a disappointing first round tomorrow.
One player not in action in Spain this week is Rory McIlroy. The Ulsterman may be a world-beater in the making, but this week he's taken a considerable drop in class to turn out for the Egyptian Open in Cairo, on the Challenge Tour, effectively the second tier of the European Tour.
What's in it for McIlroy? It can't be either the prestige or the money, with a first prize of just €28,000 on offer for the winner. Of course, the 21-year-old has likely pocketed a considerable sum just for turning up, confirming earlier this week he had joined the field in a bid to promote the event.
Not that he's done a sterling job thus far. After today's second round, the tousle-haired youngster is in a tie for 44th place, one-over for the tournament after coming home two-over today. That leaves him 10 strokes behind current clubhouse leader Lee Slattery, on nine-under for the tournament.
The world No. 9 had previously described yesterday's opening thusly: "The first nine holes were probably the worst nine I’ve played all year. I spent two hours on the range this morning, working on the changes I have been trying to make to my swing, but I didn't quite trust it on the course."
McIlroy will next play competitively at the WGC - HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, where he will face a considerably more challenging field. The next highest ranked player after McIlroy in Egypt is Sweden's Oscar Floren, ranked 223rd in the world.
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