Sergio Garcia ‘very happy’ with start at Andalucia Valderrama Masters

Tournament host Sergio Garcia claimed a share of the lead after the first round of his belated title defence in the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.

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 number five Jon Rahm struggled to a three-over-par 74 in his first professional tournament on home soil.