Sergio Garcia's composed first-round 67 put him a stroke off the lead and on course to capture his first Spanish Open title, striking a telling blow in his private battle with Retief Goosen. The Spaniard began the day joint-favourite with Goosen and finished it at five-under-par, a shot behind joint leaders Soren Hansen of Denmark and Briton David Gilford.
German rookie Marcel Siem and Britain's Greg Owen and Jamie Spence share third place with Garcia at the event which is now combined with the Canaries Open. South African Goosen could only manage a 73 - seven shots off the lead - as his putter and two errant approaches let him down.
The pair have both made it a goal to top the European order of merit this year, but the 22-year-old Garcia already looks favourite to capture the $300,000 this weekend that would move him closer to leader Goosen at the top of the rankings.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
