Garcia, Kaymer tied at 8-under 63
CASTELLON, Spain -- Martin Kaymer shot an 8-under 63 to tie Sergio Garcia for the first-round lead Friday at the wind-interrupted Castello Masters.
Kaymer had four straight birdies in a strong return after breaking several toes in a go-cart crash in August in Arizona. The 24-year-old German was 4-under after 12 holes when play was called Thursday because of high winds.
Kaymer birdied his last two holes, and came back with birdies on the first two Friday. He added two more later to join defending champion Garcia in first place.
Robert Allenby was in position to make it a three-way tie when he stood at 8-under with two to play. But he bogeyed the par-4 17th and made par on the last hole. He finished the round tied for third with Michael Jonzon of Sweden at 64.
Garcia was leading Thursday when wind interrupted play and half the field failed to complete the first round. Gusts of up to 40 mph forced the players off the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo course for three hours at lunchtime.
Garcia was on his second-to-last hole when the round was suspended. He returned to birdie No. 8 but bogeyed the last.
"You never like to finish like that, but other than that it was pretty solid and I made some nice putts," he said. "We get a wind like that only three or four days a year -- and usually on those days we chill at home."
The Spaniard, playing on his home course where his father is the club pro, is hoping to retain a title for the first time in his professional career.
Masters champion Angel Cabrera was disqualified for missing his tee time.
Cabrera was runner-up on Wednesday in the Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda. He planned to catch an overnight flight to Spain, and he was helped by an afternoon start. But after a series of delays, along with the strong wind, not even a private helicopter once he landed could get him to the course on time.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
