Race to Dubai moves on to Spain

MARTIN KAYMER has missed playing golf so much he will make an early comeback following the foot injury that has sidelined him for nine weeks.

The 24-year-old German broke his toes in a karting accident in the US after a sixth place in August’s PGA Championship had taken him top of Europe’s Race to Dubai money list.

“I’ve come back earlier than I should, but that’s not because of the money-list situation, only because I miss the game so much,” Kaymer said yesterday at the Mediterraneo club where he will play in this week’s Castello Masters.

“I just couldn’t wait to get back. The doctor has given me the okay to play so it’s just nice to be back out here.”

Kaymer does need to make up lost ground, though. He holds third place on the money list, €259,885 behind Lee Westwood.

Having established himself as one of the favourites for this year’s money list with back-to-back wins in the French and Scottish Opens, Kaymer feels he is by no means out of the race.

“Every week I’ve been away, everyone got a little closer to me, but not as close as I expected,” he said. “Then it was a little unlucky for me Westwood won last week, as he’s now more than €250,000 ahead. But that’s fine, as I am playing this week and he isn’t.”

There are only three Irish players competing in Castellón this week, with Darren Clarke first out, along with Sergio Garcia and José Maria Olazábal, at 8.55am local time.

In the afternoon, Gary Murphy begins his round at 1.10pm, with Scott Drummond and Mads Vibe-Hastrup, and 20 minutes later Paul McGinley sets off with Thomas Björn and Ignacio Garrido.

Meanwhile, Irishman Simon Thornton, who came into the Italian Federation Cup in need of a big performance, got off to the perfect start with a round of 65 yesterday to grab the lead on the opening day of the €150,000 event.

With over 100 players jostling for the 45 places available at next week’s season-ending Apulia San Domenico Grand Final, the pressure is on at Olgiata GC in Rome.

However, Challenge Tour rookie Thornton, 64th in the rankings, showed few signs of nerves with a seven under par round which featured an eagle at the 15th hole.

Thornton leads by one stroke from Wales’ Rhys Davies, who carded seven birdies in his round of 66, and the irrepressible Italian Edoardo Molinari, who joined Davies in a share of second place late in the day.

“I missed a birdie putt from two feet on the last hole, so my day could’ve been even better,” said Thornton.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Castelló Masters Costa Azahar

Club de Campo del Mediterráneo

Castellón, Spain

Sky Sports 1 11am-1pm, 3pm-5pm

US PGA TOUR

Frys.com Open

Grayhawk Golf Club

Scottsdale, Arizona

Eurosport 210pm-midnight