Flying start for McGowan as he battles to keep card

England’s Ross McGowan, fighting for his European Tour future, began the Castello Masters with a seven-under-par 64 in Spain yesterday.

A year after his bid for a Ryder Cup debut was scuppered by a wrist injury, the 29-year-old is only 163rd on the money-list and has slumped from 63rd in the world to 543rd.

But, needing things to go his way, he sank his 4-iron approach to the 503-yard 17th for an eagle-2 and also had five birdies in a flawless display.

McGowan will not be taking anything for granted, however. A fortnight ago he started the Madrid Masters with another 64 and led there as well, only to fall back to 42nd.

Without a single top-15 finish all season he said: “It’s nice to be playing well again and up in contention. I’m not really thinking about the ‘Race to Dubai’ at the moment. I’m just trying to play each shot at a time and put up a good result at the end of the week.”

On the eagle he added: “I wasn’t sure it had gone in. I heard one clap, got up there and found it in the hole.”

McGowan is two in front of compatriot Richard McEvoy and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti, and three clear of a group which includes Sergio Garcia, on his home course, and Northern Irishman Michael Hoey on his first appearance since winning the Dunhill Links title.

Hoey was six under with three to play, then followed a bogey on the short 16th with a double- bogey before holing from off the green for birdie at the last.

Garcia, without a victory for almost three years but much more like his old self this season, was down on one over after ten holes, but birdied five of the next eight.

In contrast, 18-year-old defending champion Matteo Manassero had to settle for a 69 after kicking off with four successive birdies, while 20-year-old Tom Lewis, winner of the Portugal Masters in only his third professional start on Sunday, shot 71.

The Welwyn Garden City youngster, paired with Garcia and Manassero, was suffering from a virus and turned in a disappointing three over, then had four birdies in a row, but closed with another bogey.

“My head is really spinning, especially when I bend down, and I’ve got quite a temperature; it really affected my concentration,” said Lewis.

“I was pleased to come back with a good run because it was slipping away,” added the Englishman, who said the Mediterraneo course did not suit his game. “It’s going to be difficult for me this week. It’s not just the head. The course isn’t really set up for me.

“It’s very tricky and narrow, not like last week at Victoria where the fairways are wider and the greens bigger. You need a good short game and my short game isn’t my strongest point.”

Despite having to take a drop out of a tree at the 13th after his ball nestled in a hole next to a plastic bottle, Colin Montgomerie kept a bogey off his card like McGowan, but only one birdie meant a 70, while playing partner John Daly finished with back-to-back double bogeys for a 73.

Gary Orr and Steven O’Hara, both battling to retain their cards, head the Scottish contingent after rounds of 67 and 68 respectively. David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson matched Montgomerie’s 70, one less than Stephen Gallacher, while Richie Ramsay signed for a 72.

Fifers George Murray and Peter Whiteford had 73s, while Lloyd Saltman could only muster a 75 and is running out of time in his bid to finish in the top 115 at the end of the season.