Summary Spanish players have won a lot lately, so why not the Masters?
AUGUSTA (AP) - Spain had two golfers in the top four after the first round at Augusta National on Thursday. Sergio Garcia had a share of the lead at 6-under and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano was tied for fourth two strokes back.
"The Masters tournament means a lot to Spanish golf," Fernandez-Castano said. "We've got, what? Four green jackets? I've got none, but Spanish golf has got four green jackets."
Seve Ballesteros was the first Spaniard to win the Masters, claiming his first green jacket in 1980 and a second in 1983. His good friend and protege, Jose Maria Olazabal, won here in 1994 and 1999.
But Spain has not won a major since Olazabal's last victory. He and Garcia have had their chances, most memorably Garcia's runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship. Garcia also tied for fourth at the Masters in 2004, and Olazabal tied for third in 2006.
Spain, however, always seems to be in the mix when it comes to the biggest sporting events these days.
It won football's World Cup in 2010, as well as the last two European championships. Its basketball team was runner-up at the London Olympics. Fernando Alonso battled Sebastian Vettel all the way to the last race for the Formula One title last year, losing by just three points. Rafael Nadal has won three tournaments and been runner-up in another since returning in February from the knee injury that sidelined him for seven months.
And when the Europeans staged a remarkable comeback to win the Ryder Cup last fall, the team captain was Olazabal.
But a victory at a major could lay the foundation for Spain's next generation of success.
"We do need a major in Spain. If it's not the Masters, one of the other three," Fernandez-Castano said. "It's important for Spanish golf to get a major because, as you know, there's less and less players now, and we need to motivate the younger generation to take up the game.
"Unfortunately, it's been a while now," he added. "I think we've always had the talent ... but we still have to finish the job. So hopefully this is the one."
