Garcia shares lead in Mallorca

Sergio Garcia insisted he had no regrets about turning down the chance of a £1m (€1.44m) pay-day after impressing on the first day of the Mallorca Classic.

Garcia fired a four-under-par 66 at Pula Golf Club to share the clubhouse lead with compatriot Carlos Rodiles on a day when almost half the field were unable to complete their rounds due to morning thunderstorms.

England’s Simon Khan was the leader on the course at five under par with five holes to play.

Jose Maria Olazabal, second here last year, was two over par with three holes remaining, while playing partner Stephen Gallacher, who won the Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday, was one-over.

Garcia qualified to play in the World Match Play at Wentworth this week but the 24-year-old chose instead to play in Mallorca, and said: “It’s not all about the money.

“I feel the Spanish fans deserve to watch me play, it’s my first time in Spain this year, and I’m really happy that I came here. Even if the weather had been horrendous here and great in England I think I’ve made a great decision.”

The tournament also gives Garcia the chance to play in the 10th of the 11 events he needs to fulfil the membership requirements of the European Tour, which he needed to do to play in the Ryder Cup last month.

“I was always going to play in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama and I had to get one more in,” he added.

Garcia was as short as 3/1 favourite to win this week – “That’s Tiger territory,” he joked – but insisted he is not taking success for granted despite, at 12th, being the only player in the top 65 of the world rankings competing.

“That’s not the way to go. Everybody here can play the game of golf and I think the field is better than some might think.”