Garcia and Gonzo stray off course

Hopes for a first European green jacket since Jose Maria Olazabal donned his second in 1999 do not look likely to rest on his compatriots as Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño failed to repeat their opening-round success yesterday at the Masters.

Strong first rounds from the Spanish pair on Thursday had come on the 14th anniversary of Olazabal’s and the 30th anniversary of the late Seve Ballesteros’s second Masters victories in 1999 and 1983, respectively. And such was the feelgood factor following Garcia’s 66 and Gonzo’s 68 there was plenty of talk about a fifth Masters title going to Spain.

Could Spain rekindle its love affair with the Masters? Fernandez-Castaño certainly thought so.