Garcia's mojo back at Castello Masters
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2011 Castello Masters Costa Azahar | Wrap | 24 Oct 2011
Sergio Garcia might not have won anywhere for nearly three years but he had been sending out signals for more than 12 months that a drought breaking victory was not that far away.
Today, Garcia rubber stamped those signals with an emphatic 11 shot victory over Gonzalo Federez Castano at the Castello Masters, his second victory in an event played on a golf course he grew up playing much of his junior golf.
After some time in the golfing wilderness, Garcia’s ‘mojo’ is well and truly back, the victory, and the nature of it, sure to have him as a genuine contender in just about everything he plays in the immediate future.
Garcia stole a break on the field with a second round of 63 to lead by two and added a third round of 64 to lead by a massive either shots heading into the final round.
Rather than protect the lead Garcia went birdie hunting on the final day and the further the tournament went the further he went ahead. Federez Castano tried his best to stay in touch but although he was within six at one stage after his opening nine of 29 Garcia was not about to let go of his vice like grip on the event.
Garcia himself added a final nine of 31 to complete his first victory since the 2008 HSBC Champions event.
Alexander Noren and Richie Ramsey finished in a share of third position one shot behind Federez Castano.
The leading Australian in the event was Marcus Fraser who tied for 8th and earned €45,000 in the process. Like he so often does, Fraser has been going quietly about his business in Europe this season, the finish moving him to 69th on the money list. If he is to make it to the Dubai Championship he needs to be inside the top 60 by the second week of December but he has certainly imporved his chances with a good tournament this week.
Scott Strange and Brett Rumford finished in a tie for 11th with Rumford sneaking inside the all important top 115 on the money list and into 113th position. Strange also improved his chances of retaining his European playing rights by moving to 130th.
Mathew Zions was 27th, Richard Green 41st and New Zealander Mark Brown 63rd.
The European Tour stays in Spain this week for the Andalucia Masters where Garcia could well take up where he left off.
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