Confident Garcia fancies chances after smart start

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

Garcia, who has twice finished runner-up but never won the tournament, signed for a three under par 68. He shrugged off the news he was outscored by three shots by Soren Kjeldsen and dismissive of the Dane when observing that: “There’s always going to be one guy who comes out and does everything right and everything is going his way. It happens every year.”

Garcia’s moods haven’t always endeared him to fans with the Irish particularly resentful of the manner in which he accepted defeat by Pádraig Harrington in last year’s Open Championship and the US PGA Championship in August.