European Tour Insider: Garcia hosts Kaymer's return

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Victor Garcia makes occasional appearances on the Champions Tour.

Castellon is a small town north of Valencia in Spain. It is to be found between the Mediterranean and the Desert de las Palmas mountains. It dates back to the 13th century and boasts the requisite cobbled central plaza and an eye-catching octagonal bell tower. It's most famous son is Sergio Garcia.

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It's tempting to believe that if Garcia were not involved, the Castello Masters would not happen.

Although Castellon has staged other events -- including a traditional Spanish one when all the national stars of various ages get together for a challenge -- there's the impression that other cities would step up if Garcia were not supporting his hometown.

Of course he has had plenty of help staging the event. His father Victor -- the resident pro at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo -- has been invaluable. But it was due to Sergio that Camilo Villegas played last year, and it's his influence that gets Rafael Nadal to play in the pro-am.

Yet Garcia was not the perfect host 12 months ago. Surely a host shouldn't canter to the title? His local knowledge and inevitable comfort at being at home worked wonders as he took a four-stroke lead into the final round and won at 20 under. Inevitably, he's the favorite to repeat the feat.

KARTING KAYMER
The Castello Masters boasts an excellent entry for its second staging, but one name stands out. And we trust he can stand firm and unaided.

European Tour Podcast

Robert Lee and John Hawksworth reflect on the 2009 Portugal Masters, where Lee Westwood claimed his first European Tour title in more than two years. They also look ahead to the next Race to Dubai event, the Castello Masters in Spain and offer a golf tip from Mikko Ilonen of Finland. Click to listen

Martin Kaymer is playing for the first time since breaking his foot in a go-kart accident seven weeks ago. He led the Race to Dubai after victories at the French Open and Scottish Open, but has been surpassed in his absence.

"My foot has healed well and the doctor has told me that I am fit to play, to put pressure on the foot and play normally," the young German said. "Obviously, I do not know exactly how I am going to feel after 72 holes, but I think that it will be alright."

WESTWOOD TAKES OVER DUBAI RANKINGS
The new leader of the inaugural Race to Dubai is Lee Westwood.

Given his high standard over the period, it's hard to believe he hadn't won for two years, but his performance at the lucrative Portugal Masters put an end to that stat and lifted him above Kaymer, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy to the money list.

Winning the Order of Merit in 2000 is the highlight of his career to date. He says winning a major would top it, but his focus is well and truly on repeating the feat of nine years ago. He's sure the confidence of knowing he got over the line at Vilamoura will help as he looks to win again in coming weeks.

There are times Westwood seems a little taciturn with short answers to questions in TV interviews, but he's one of the most personable and affable characters there is with a hearty sense of humor.

His winner's speech at the Oceanico Victoria course was a joy.

Westwood said he felt like he was playing at home with the Algarve's reputation as a British holiday and retirement destination, although admitted it was just as much like Ireland -- minus the weather -- because of the support for third-placed Padraig Harrington. He praised the course, saying Oceanico would always have a place in his heart "and on my head, because it's written here on my hat."

ROARING RORY
McIlroy wasn't despondent despite finishing down the field in Portugal, and he knows with events like the Volvo World Matchplay and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions coming up, he can soar back to the top in the Race to Dubai.

"I've got to still keep my foot on the pedal," said the Holywood hero. "I'm just over two million euros at the minute and I think I need to get to at least three to win."

It's a little obscene thinking of that amount of money, but be assured his thoughts are purely on targets and not his bank balance.

THE BROTHERS MOLINARI
Francesco Molinari proved the closest rival to Westwood at Vilamoura.

F. Molinari

The former Italian Open champion led at the end of days one and two, and but for two poor putts near the end, he surely would have threatened all the more. He's becoming a very classy player indeed with some excellent performances in the majors across the last year, and several people are considering him an outside bet to make the 2010 Ryder Cup team.

His attitude is so much more positive now, too. "I'd like to take some trophies after taking so much confidence week after week," Molinari said. "But I just have to wait and it will happen."

There a bit of sibling rivalry, too. His brother Edoardo is leading the Challenge Tour standings, having smashed previous money levels, and will graduate to the upper tier for next season.

TIPS FROM THE TOP
I have to find a tip every week on the European Tour for use in a Race to Dubai podcast presented by former player and current TV presenter Robert Lee. Not for who's going to win the tournament -- though my bank balance is healthier courtesy of Westwood's win -- but as a matter of game improvement.

Talking through a technique rather than demonstrating can challenge the descriptive powers of many, though there's an excellent one from McIlroy ready for an upcoming show.

This week's gem came from the former Scandinavian Masters champion Mikko Ilonen. The Finn opted against putting or bunker play or how to hit a 1-iron, preferring to go off at a tangent.

"My tip of the week," he said, "Because we're in Portugal and it's been lovely weather all week is to remember to put sunscreen on every morning." There speaks a man who got pretty badly burned on the Sunday in Madrid.

Not that this rivals Scott Strange's tip. "Never eat yellow snow," he said.