The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Host Garcia and Luiten share lead in Valderrama
Tournament host Sergio Garcia claimed a share of the lead after the first round of his belated title defence in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters yesterday.
Garcia, who won the last staging of the event in 2011, carded seven birdies and two bogeys in an opening 66 to finish five under par alongside Holland’s Joost Luiten.
Fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and England’s Robert Rock were a shot off the lead, but world No 5 Jon Rahm struggled to a three-over-par 74 in his first professional tournament on home soil.
Masters champion Garcia started on the back nine and birdied the 10th, 12th, 15th and 18th to reach the turn in 32, before following a bogey on the first with three birdies in four holes from the third.
At that point the 37-year-old enjoyed a two-shot lead, but a wayward drive on the eighth led to a second bogey of the day as Luiten came home in 31 to join Garcia at the head of affairs.
“It was unfortunately very wet after the rain yesterday and this morning but the course is holding up well and towards the end of the round the ball wasn’t even picking up mud on the fairways,” Garcia said.
“Obviously it was gettable because it was soft but you still have to hit good shots.
“I hit my irons very well and drove the ball well other than on the eighth hole.”
Luiten, who was second behind Andrew Johnston when Valderrama hosted the Spanish Open last year, also started on the back nine and was only level par after 11 holes, but birdied five of the next six.
Johnston was three under par after eight holes but had to settle for an opening 69, while former Masters champion Danny Willett was a shot behind on one under.
Drumoig’s Connor Syme carded a four over 75 to lie nine off the leaders.
Fellow Scot Duncan Stewart is also four-over, two ahead of Scott Henry and former Ryder Cup star Stephen Gallacher.
Scott Jamieson is top Scot with a two-under 69, with Challenge Tour player Danny law two behind. Craig Lee carded a 74.