Nicolas Roche had a day he’s unlikely to forget on stage 10 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday when he came down in a crash and was forced into a frantic chase to preserve fourth overall on the general classification.

Ryanair said yesterday it would start flights between Castellon airport in Spain and Britain in September, in the first regular commercial flights to operate from the “ghost” airport since it opened in 2011.

Defending champions Spain took complete control of their Davis Cup quarter-final against Austria as they moved into a 2-0 lead after the opening day in Castellon.

Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald are centre stage in Dubai this week as they do battle for the European Tour's money list crown, but Sergio Garcia is going for something special too.

THE excited Valderrama crowd cheered Sergio Garcia home to a hugely significant victory for himself and Spain yesterday but the sparse but vocal Irish in the gallery also had plenty to shout about after a superb final day performance by Shane Lowry at the Andalucia Masters.

FRESH from his remarkable 11 strokes victory in front of his home fans in Castellon on Sunday, Sergio Garcia has moved down the coast in western Spain to Valderrama where the €3m Andalucia Masters gets underway tomorrow.

THIS time last year, Graeme McDowell was the toast of the golfing world.

The longest barren spell of Sergio Garcia’s career looks certain to end in front of his home fans in Castellon tomorrow.

Jose Maria Olazabal has said he expects Sergio Garcia to be in his Ryder Cup team next year – and he has now seen for himself that Swede Alex Noren might well be in Chicago as well.

It was a case of ’Home Sweet Home’ today as Sergio Garcia took a giant stride towards his first victory for almost three years.

Tom Lewis came back down to earth with a bit of a bump today after winning on only his third start as a professional.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL is backing Sergio Garcia to be part of his Ryder Cup team next September on the course where he became a world star.

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.

Sergio Garcia is aiming to secure victory on his return to golf at the Castello Masters this week – but admits it will struggle to be as emotionally charged as his success at the Castellon event two years ago.

Sergio Garcia has declared himself ready for another assault on the world number one spot, while Jose Maria Olazabal is simply hoping to avoid the cut as the Spanish duo prepare for their eagerly-anticipated comebacks tomorrow.

WE are about to find out what a two-month break from golf, interrupted only by a trip to the Ryder Cup to be part of Colin Montgomerie’s backroom team, has done for Sergio Garcia.

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.

IT’S that time of year again when Europe’s professional elite have arange of considerations to occupy their thoughts.

HOWEVER much Ross Fisher enjoyed his Volvo World Match Play win, it was matched by Sweden’s Peter Hanson.

Martin Kaymer has given himself the chance to regain the European Tour number one spot in his first event back from breaking toes in a go-kart crash.

After the relief of proving himself a winner again – and with it going top of the European Tour money list – Lee Westwood aims to show he is now a serial winner again.

SERGIO GARCIA produced a fine round of golf at Valderrama yesterday to stake a strong claim for the Volvo Masters.

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.

The sun shone, but the big names did not in the opening round of the Spanish Open in Seville on Thursday.

Forest fires advancing out of control on several fronts have forced the evacuation of a village in the eastern Spanish province of Castellon, officials said Thursday.

Australia’s Nikki Garrett carded a seven-under-par 65 to establish a one-shot lead after the second round of the Ladies Spanish Open in Castellon.

England’s Rebecca Hudson fired a course record seven-under-par 65 to lead after the first round of the Spanish Open at Club de Campo Mediterraneo in Castellon.

Villarreal may be a new name on the European scene but are they fast making their mark at the highest level.

Spanish fishermen blocked ports and fish markets in several parts of Spain for a second consecutive day today, keeping up protests against fuel prices.

Denmark’s Iben Tinning fired a nine-under-par 63 to break the course record and take a two-shot lead after the second round of the Spanish Women’s Open in Castellon.

Eighteen people gathered in a mountain hostel in eastern Spain for a birthday party died in their sleep from an apparent gas leak, officials said today.

Seventeen youths were found dead at a hostel in eastern Spain today, apparently from gas fumes while celebrating a birthday party, reports said.

Colin McRae continued his impressive early form in the Dakar Rally today to ensure he finished the European leg of the event in the top 10.

Colin McRae claimed an impressive ninth place on today’s second stage of the Dakar Rally as the event headed to Spain.

Former World Rally Champion Colin McRae acquitted himself well on his first taste of the Dakar Rally – but he expects matters to get much harder when the event hits Africa.

JAPANESE driver Kenjiro Shinozuka, the 1997 auto champion, made a winning start in the 1.5km prologue of the 26th Dakar Rally which got underway despite heavy snow yesterday.

STEPHANE PETERHANSEL snatched the lead of the Dakar Rally yesterday with the fastest time on stage two.

Gaizka Mendieta hasn't set the world alight since joining Lazio for around €47million last summer.