European Tour Insider: Open de España a Spanish prize?

text size

Franklin/Getty Images

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano has finished second in his last three starts.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño has been striving for consistency and a place in the world's top 50.

The 28-year-old Spaniard has won once in each of the last four seasons but is aware that his results have been otherwise patchy. Until lately, that is -- and this series of close calls has been frustrating.

Gonzalo has placed second in each of the last three events, losing playoffs in Portugal and Korea, and finishing one stroke adrift of Scott Strange in China.

MORE INSIDERS

The TOUR Insider
Champions Tour Insider
The Fantasy Insider

"Finishing second again, yes, that means I'm playing well, but I really want to win. I'm getting closer, but this one hurt," he said after the Ballantine's Championship on Sunday at Jeju Island.

At least he's now up to a career-high Official World Golf Ranking at 53rd, and what a week this would be to go one step better -- it's the Open de España at PGA Golf de Catalunya between Barcelona and Girona.

Only three Spaniards have won their national open since it became the European Tour's very first event in 1972: Sergio Garcia (2002), Seve Ballesteros (1995, '85, '81) and Antonio Garrido (1972).

SURF'S UP

Fernandez-Castaño's countryman Pablo Martin could be one to watch this week, too.

His 11th-place finish in Korea was his best Tour showing since the astounding win as an amateur at the Estoril Open de Portugal in 2007.

The 23-year-old Oklahoma State graduate had shown a return to form in Beijing two weeks ago and had a chance of victory in Korea until slipping on the home stretch.

Jokingly, he thinks his improved standard could be attributed to an accident surfing. His forehead bears the scars of a close encounter with coral after coming off his board in Bali.

"I hit the reef, and suddenly after that I started making cuts," Martin said. "Maybe that's it. I just needed a big bang on my head."

DALY DIET

While a Spanish victory in Catalunya would be the best scenario for the home fans, there's no doubt that many would love to see John Daly come out on top.

The twice-major champion is playing his third European Tour event of the season after taking up an invitation for the second year running.

He'll hope to fare better than 12 months ago when making his first visit to Spain in 16 years. He missed the cut by two strokes.

Apparently, we'll be seeing a new slim-line model. After what he calls "lap-band" surgery, Daly says he's shed 50 pounds.

A DOUBLE FOR JAIDEE

Thongchai Jaidee claimed his second European Tour title of the year at the Ballantines Championship last week -- winning a three-man playoff with a birdie at the first extra hole.

Jaidee prevailed despite suffering a penalty stroke when his ball moved as he was about to putt on Saturday. Many players, including then-leader Robert-Jan Derksen, considered the course unplayable at the time.

Jaidee, who also won the Indonesian Open this year, now has four European Tour victories and has risen to 49th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The two-time Asian Tour No. 1 tops the tour's Order of Merit once again by a large margin, but while he's obviously a multiple winner in the Far East, he wasn't an obvious contender given the conditions.

The Thai star admits it's taken a lot of work and application to learn how to play in cold and windy weather. It's a far cry from his first appearance at the Indonesian Open.

"I could not go out from the hotel," he said. "My fingers were like ice. I couldn't hold a club. But I learned how to play with weather like this. The body has to be strong to play in the wind. Every year in Europe the weather is rain, cold and windy."

THERE AND BACK AGAIN

Not that the weather was to blame for the misfortune that befell François Delamontagne; the Frenchman is pleased there's no forfeit rule on the European Tour for not passing the ladies' tee.

He struck a decent wood at the uphill par-4 13th at the Pinx Club and set off after it at a brisk pace. Tournament referee John Paramor, who happened to be watching from a buggy, called out: "Francois, which ball are you playing?"

"Titleist One. Why?" the Frenchman replied.

"Because it's just gone rolling past me...back down hill," Paramor responded.

The ball had carried around 260 yards, but struck the cart path and rolled all the way back some 200 yards and level with the ladies' tee. Double bogey was the eventual result.

KNUTZON

Jason Knutzon finished in 11th place at the Ballantines Championship et even par. He trusts his eventual place in world golf will be back at home.

The 33-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, is in a seventh full season on the Asian Tour, and is hence a regular performer in the events co-sanctioned by Europe.

The former Iowa State star who earned a series of collegiate victories will play some Nationwide Tour events later this year, and the new father hopes more will come in due course.

"Hopefully, I'll start playing a little more at home," Knutzon said. "I'd obviously like to get on the PGA TOUR. That's kind of everybody's goal. Hopefully, it happens."