We are through the first round of the Castello Masters golf tournament in Valencia, and Paul Lawrie and Ricardo Gonzalez share the lead at -7. Sergio Garcia finished his round on par after not playing for months. He grew up playing on this course so he led the antepost odds by bookmakers. But, he didn’t win this event last year and there are plenty of players vying for a spot in the Dubai World Championship next month, so the former World #2 has his work cut out for him.

This is Garcia’s first tournament since missing the cut at the PGA Championship in August. He took some time away from the game to rest after managing only one top 10 finish in 2010. His only other time on the course was as an assistant captain to Colin Montgomerie for the winning European Ryder Cup team. His ranking has fallen to #68 in the world and he hasn’t won a tournament since the 2008 HSBC Champions, so he will have to finish quite well to get in the Race to Dubai.

Next in the odds for the Castello Masters is Richard Green, who won the Portugal Masters last week. He finished at -2 for his first round. His win in Portugal was his third on the tour. He is ranked 64th in the world and 22nd in the Race to Dubai.

If you aren’t aware of what the standings entails in the Race to Dubai, the top 15 players share a $7,500,000 bonus pool at the end of the season. The top 60 qualify for the Dubai World Championship. And, the top 115 plus affiliate members keep their European Tour cards.

The highest ranked player in the Castello Masters is Rhys Davies. The Welshman is ranked 59th in the world and 15th in the Race to Dubai. He has one win and three second-place finishes in 2010. However, he has missed four cuts in his last eight events. He has decent value in this tournament with a +2 in the first round and coming off good form in a tie 14th at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

Castello Masters defending champion Michael Jonzon had a good first round at -1, but he isn’t a good bet after missing 13 cuts on the season, including the last five in 21 events. He is ranked 422nd in the world now. Instead, focus your each way bet on Oliver Wilson, who finished -2 in his first round. The 2008 European Ryder Cup star finished in a tie for 9th at the Portugal Masters, 5th in the European Masters and 14th in the Johnnie Walker Classic. He is one of those golfers who have no trouble making the top 10 but can’t make final hurdle for the win. But, his time may be now since this field doesn’t have a player in the top 50.

Castello Masters Winner Odds (adjusted after the first round, provided by William Hill)

David Horsey: 9/1

Paul Lawrie: 11/1

Gregory Bourdy: 14/1

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano: 16/1

Ricardo Gonzalez: 16/1

Robert-Jan Derksen: 20/1

Richard Finch: 20/1

Alexander Noren: 20/1

Gary Boyd: 25/1

Richard Green: 25/1

Oliver Wilson: 25/1

Simon Khan: 25/1

Joost Luiten: 25/1

Matteo Manassero: 25/1

Sergio Garcia: 33/1

Jeppe Huldahl: 33/1

Gary Orr: 33/1

Richard Bland: 40/1

David Drysdale: 40/1

Michael Hoey: 40/1

Soren Kjeldsen: 401

Gareth Maybin: 40/1