Castelló Masters preview

The European Tour is in Spain this week for the Castelló Masters at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo. Matteo Manassero became the youngest ever winner on the European Tour when he won this event last year and he's back to defend his title.

Matteo Manassero defends
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: The European Tour is in Spain this week for the Castelló Masters at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo. Matteo Manassero became the youngest ever winner on the European Tour when he won this event last year and he's back to defend his title. At just 17 years and 188 days, Manassero was the youngest player ever to take a title on the European Tour when he claimed victory in the 2010 Castelló Masters, he beat the record held by New Zealand's Danny Lee. Now 18, Manassero won again on the European Tour in Malaysia earlier this year. He's looking forward to making a return to the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo. "The 2011 Castelló Masters will be the first time I have ever defended a title as a professional and I am extremely excited about it," he said. "I never expected my first victory would come so soon. I had come close in several events before the Castelló Masters last October, but to actually go all the way was a fantastic feeling." Sergio Garcia won the inaugural Castelló Masters back in 2008. The event is hosted by his home club and his father is still the resident professional. Garcia will receive huge home support this week. Fresh off his maiden European Tour victory in Portugal last week, England's Tom Lewis will be looking to continue the remarkable start he's made to his professional career.

Venue: Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, Castellon, Spain Date: Oct 20-23 Course stats: par 71, 7,073 yards Purse: €2,000,000 Winner: €333,330 Defending Champion: Matteo Manassero (-16)

TV Coverage: Thursday 20 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 11am Friday 21 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 11am Saturday 22 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 12.30pm Sunday 23 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 12.30pm

Player Watch: Pablo Larrazabal - The flamboyant Spaniard would love to taste victory on home soil. He put in a good showing last week in Portugal with a final round of 65 the highlight.

Christian Nilsson - He finished third last week in Portugal and it could have been better had it not been for a disappointing final round. He performed well in the Castello Masters of 2010, finishing third. He was second in the tournament the year before. He's surely a good bet this week.

Sergio Garcia - He's a former winner of this event and, although his results haven't lived up to his high standards recently, he's still picked up almost €750,000 in prize money on the 2011 European Tour. It's his home course so expect him to contend.  

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. Where next? PGA Tour - Children's Miracle Network preview

Fergus Bisset
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 has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

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?

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