Castelló Masters Preview

The European Tour is in Spain this week for the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar. Michael Jonzon defends the title while José Maria Olazábal and Sergio Garcia return to competitive action.

Michael Jonzon defends

Lowdown: The European Tour is in Spain this week for the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar. Michael Jonzon defends the title while José Maria Olazábal and Sergio Garcia return to competitive action. Garcia will host the tournament for the third consecutive year around the course where he was taught to play golf by his father Victor. He won the event in 2008 and finished fourth last season. He's been out of form this year however so will be looking to bounce back after playing an important role at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor as one of Colin Montgomerie's vice captains. Another vice captain from Celtic Manor, José Maria Olazábal makes a welcome return to the competitive arena this week. The 44-year-old has been battling rheumatism and tendonitis and has been able to play just one European Tour event since competing in this tournament last year. "I've managed to make successful comebacks in the past, but it gets tougher as you get older," he said. "Your physical condition is tougher to maintain, especially if - like me - you have gone almost three years without being able to exercise properly. It has been very frustrating not being able to play, not being able to practice and not feeling well. That hurts. But I've always been a positive person and I am already looking forward to getting myself fitter for next year." In last year's Castello Masters Michael Jonzon was a surprise winner. He finished a shot clear of Martin Kaymer and Christian Nilsson. With just one tournament left after this for players to secure their card for 2011, the pressure is mounting on those hovering around the 115 mark on the money list. Kenneth Ferrie is currently in 115th spot and, if things finished as they stand now, he'd be the last man to retain his Tour card.

Venue: Club de Campo del Mediterráneo, Valencia, Spain Date: Oct 21-24 Course stats: par 71, 7,073 yards Purse: €3,000,000 Winner: €333,330 Defending Champion: Michael Jonzon (-20)

TV Coverage: Thursday 21 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 11am Friday 22 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 11am Saturday 23 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 12.30pm Sunday 24 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 12.30pm Player Watch: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano - The Spaniard was second last week in Portugal and is playing great golf from tee to green. If he can get his shaky putting in order, he'll be a force this week.

Richard Green - Last week's winner, Green will look to carry his form through to this tournament. He's a streaky player so might well contend again this time out.

Joost Luiten - Second in last week's Portugal Masters, Luiten has promised much since turning pro in 2006. He's yet to secure his first European Tour victory but this could be the week.

Key hole: 17th. A long par-4 that can be stretched over 500 yards, this hole will require two solid blows. Water on the left side might come into play off the tee but the players will want their drives to go as far left as possible to afford the best angle of attack into the green.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?