Kjeldsen pursued by home favourites

Soren Kjeldsen leads the way after the opening round of the Castello Masters but there are three significant Spanish names just below his on the leaderboard. The Dane's seven-under 64 earned him a one-shot lead over Briton Richard Finch and Spain's former Ryder Cup player Ignacio Garrido, bidding for his first victory for five years.

In a share of fourth place, two shots off the early lead is the tournament's host Sergio Garcia, the Spanish world number five, who composed his 66 by picking up shots on his last three holes.

Fellow-Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal also carded a 66 as the double US Masters champion continued his rehabilitation following injury and sickness.

Olazabal's second tournament back after a three-month lay-off to recover from the effects of medication for back rheumatism, though, was another wayward affair, especially off the tee.

Like his comeback two weeks ago in Madrid, he was saved by a magical short-game.

"It was exactly the same scenario as the Madrid Masters," Olazabal said afterwards. "I hit a lot of bad shots. I scored five-under but the way I hit the ball it could easily have been one or two-over. It was an extraordinary day around the greens.

"But this is all a process I have to go through. When I played again I was just glad to be able to stand on the tee and hit any shot.

"Hopefully I will now be able to improve my shot-making over the next few weeks."

Best of the Irish is Rory McIlroy, whose 68 leaves him four shots off the lead and three shots ahead of Dubliner Peter Lawrie.

Paul McGinley is one over after a 72, while Gary Murphy is two shots adrift of him thanks to a 74.

Leader Kjeldsen, joint second in last year's Volvo Masters, who has admitted he was "crushed for a time" at not making the latest Ryder Cup, is refusing to let any agendas deflect him from trying to win his second title.

"Your best motivation is to try to win," he said. "That's enough of an agenda, you get enough pressure on you with that.

"I wanted to play like I finished last week when I came home in 30 in the Portugal Masters and I did that today."