THERE is a real spring in Michael Hoey’s step ahead of tomorrow’s Castellon Masters with the latest Irish winner on Tour targeting a return next April to Augusta National on the 10th anniversary of his only Masters appearance.

THE ABSENCE of Pádraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy from this week’s Andalucia Masters has caused considerable disappointment in these parts.

HAVING celebrated his 36th birthday with just a sole European Tour victory to his credit — the 2008 Spanish Open — it is unlikely Peter Lawrie will ever qualify for superstar status on the European Tour.

YOUNG Italian golfer Matteo Manassero, with Coleraine caddy Ryan McGuigan calling the shots, has become the youngest winner on the European Tour in capturing the Castellon Masters in Spain.

MICHAEL HOEY is seeing the same foot specialist that works with Chelsea F C in a goal to rid himself of continuing aching feet.

JOSE-MARIA Olazabal this week begins his bid to convince Tour chiefs he should captain Europe in their Ryder Cup defence against the USA at Medinah in 2012.

TRIPLE Ryder Cup-winner Paul McGinley has strongly hinted for the first time his interest in being a European Ryder Cup vice-captain later this year at Celtic Manor.

EUROPEAN Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie has welcomed Tiger Woods’ decision to return to golf at next month’s Masters.

Next month’s Masters will have Tiger Woods, but it will not have Jose Maria Olazabal.

Swedish golfer Martin Erlandsson went from the ridiculous to the sublime when the South African Open began at Pearl Valley today.

Next season’s European Tour – starting in South Africa on Thursday – will feature a minimum of 47 tournaments, including six new ones, and will once again culminate in the Dubai World Championship.

GARY MURPHY’S Singapore Open preparations were thrown in chaos when his clubs did not arrive until shortly before the tournament teed off.

TOUR rookie Gareth Maybin is now heading to next month’s season-ending Dubai World Championship while Gary Murphy has moved closer to securing his Tour card after the Irish duo shared fourth place in the Madrid Masters.

Sergio Garcia has revealed how he persuaded rising stars Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas to join the European Tour.

Sergio Garcia moved up to a career-high third in the world today after his first European Tour win since 2005 in the Castellon Masters.

Sergio Garcia dedicated his first European Tour win since 2005 to Seve Ballesteros after victory in the Castellon Masters on the course he played as a boy.

Sergio Garcia claimed his first European Tour win since 2005 when he triumphed at the Castellon Masters on the course he played as a boy.

Sergio Garcia surged in front of the field to take a four-shot lead into the final day of the Castellon Masters, the tournament he is hosting on the course he played as a boy.

Seve Ballesteros remained “under observation” in Madrid’s La Paz hospital last night after undergoing a third brain operation.

Alvaro Quiros will be looking to maintain his stunning form today after another impressive round at the Castellon Masters.

There was no place like home for Sergio Garcia today as a six-under-par 65 gave him a share of the lead at the Castellon Masters on the course he grew up playing.

Former US Open champion Angel Cabrera made a solid start to the second round of the Castellon Masters, parring his first five holes to remain six under.

Soren Kjeldsen shot a seven-under-par 64 to lead by one shot after the first day of the Castellon Masters.

France’s Thomas Levet set the pace early on the first day of the Castellon Masters in Spain, completing his front nine in 31, five under par, to lead by two shots.

Sergio Garcia was the early leader on the first day of the Castellon Masters on the course he played as a boy.

Recent Ryder Cup vice-captain Jose Maria Olazabal is set to make a third career comeback at the Madrid Masters today and insists that he would be content simply to make the cut.