Sergio Garcia wins Castelló Masters

Sergio Garcia put on an imperious display to win the Castelló Masters over the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo near Valencia by 11 shots from his countryman Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

Garcia carried an eight shot lead into the final round and he never looked threatened as he cruised his way to a closing 63 around his home course.

The Spaniard's winning total of 27-under-par is the joint second lowest ever returned on the European Tour, just two shy of Ernie Els record of 29-under.

Garcia began the final round steadily with three straight pars, but he opened his birdie account with a four at the par-5 fourth. Seven further birdies followed in the next 11 holes as the 31-year-old romped away from the field. His only blip came at the testing 17th where he failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker and made a bogey.

But it didn't throw Garcia from his stride and he bounced back to close with one last birdie, adding the exclamation mark to what had been a fabulous exhibition of golf.

"That was for Seve," he said. "It's hard to say that you expect to fire like I did, but I was feeling good and I've been improving all year."

Fernandez-Castano emerged as Garcia's closest challenger as Thongchai Jaidee and Ross McGowan (second and third overnight) faded over the final 18. Gonzo raced to the turn in just 29 shots and it looked for a time like he could threaten Garcia's dominance.

But a bogey at the 10th took the wind from his sails somewhat and, in the end, the Spaniard did well to hold on to second place - a finish that all but guarantees his playing privileges on the 2012 European Tour.

Richie Ramsay of Scotland played a fine closing round of 65 to finish in a tie for third with Alex Noren. The Swede, who finished with an excellent 64, was left to rue a poor third round of 73.

Castelló Masters Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, Spain Oct 20-23, purse €2,000,000, par 71

1   Sergio Garcia (Esp)   67   63   64   63   257   €333,330 2   Gonzalo Fdz-Castano (Esp) 69 66   69   64   268   €222,220 T3   Alex Noren (Swe)      69   63   73   64   269   €112,600 T3   Richie Ramsay (Sco)   72   64   68   65   269   €112,600 5   Thomas Aiken (RSA)   68   69   70   63   270   €84,800 6   George Coetzee (RSA)   67   70   69   66   272   €70,000 7   Marcel Siem (Ger)   68   68   70   67   273   €60,000 T8   Marcus Fraser (Aus)   70   64   71   69   274   €44,933 T8   Romain Wattel (Fra)   70   69   66   69   274   €44,933 T8   Ross McGowan (Eng)   64   70   69   71   274   €44,933

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage