Garcia takes Castello Masters lead before delay

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Sergio Garcia got off to a good start in his title defense at the Castello Masters, where he shot an 8-under 63 to lead by one.

CASTELLON, Spain (AP) -- Defending champion Sergio Garcia led the Castello Masters after a wind-interrupted first round on Thursday.

Gusts of up to 40 mph (65 kph) forced the players off the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo course for three hours at lunchtime.

The delay meant half of the field failed to finish the round.

Garcia was at 8-under 63 on his second-to-last hole when the round was first suspended. He returned to birdie the eighth hole but bogeyed the last.

"You never like to finish like that, but other than that, it was pretty solid, and I made some nice putts," he said. "We get a wind like that only three or four days a year -- and usually on those days we chill at home."

The Spaniard, playing on his home course where his father is the club pro, is hoping to retain a title for the first time in his professional career.

He held a one-shot clubhouse lead over Sweden's Michael Jonzon. Australia's Robert Allenby was also at 7 under but through 11 holes.

Jose Maria Olazabal and Italy's Emanuele Canonica were at 6 under.

Masters champion Angel Cabrera was disqualified for missing his tee time.

Cabrera was runner-up on Wednesday in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda. The plan was to catch an overnight flight to Spain, and he was helped by an afternoon start. But after a series of flight delays, along with the strong wind, not even a private helicopter once he landed could get him to the course on time.

And his bad timing continued. His group made it through only one hole before play was temporarily stopped due to the wind.