Spanish diplomacy and shot-making skills were in evidence yesterday from two of the host country's leading players, during the first round of the Volvo Masters. But Sergio Garcia might have expected better than a 73 as a reward for his peacemaking.

By his own admission, the 20-year-old almost came to blows with 13-handicapper Luis Fernandez Somoza, one of his amateur partners, during a heated exchange in Wednesday's pro-am. Through the intervention of a Spanish tournament official, however, they shook hands before Garcia headed for the first tee yesterday. "He said he felt very sorry and that he meant it from the bottom of his heart," said Garcia afterwards. "And I said I was sorry too. We both said everything was forgotten and it was like nothing had happened." It seems that Fomoza, a middle-aged company director, was especially anxious to see an end to the matter.

Meanwhile, Jose-Maria Olazabal, who lost to Carl Mason in the Turespana Masters on this course six years ago, took up the Spanish challenge once more yesterday. And he became an extremely welcome front-runner for the home crowd, eventually shooting 67, while the holder, Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled to a 73 as a partner for Darren Clarke.

Though the rough at Montecastillo is quite punishing, the fairways retain the generous proportions which can accommodate Olazabal's notoriously frail driving. In the event, he had only one bogey in a round which contained four birdies and an eagle three at the long 12th, which was playing directly downwind.

There, he reduced the 525-yard challenge to a drive, nine iron and a 12-foot putt. And he went on to sink a birdie putt of 18 feet at the 16th and another of nine feet at the last. As he displayed in two US Masters triumphs, there is no better sight in golf than Olazabal peppering the flags with a succession of precise iron shots. And his admirers were treated to a vintage display on this occasion, as he worked the ball in the wind.

"The conditions were very difficult and it was hard to see the distances and choose the right club," he said afterwards. "The key was to make birdies on the four par-fives and I did better than that with an eagle on the 12th."

Outlining his plans for 2001, he said:

"Next year I have decided to play in the US because if I play in Europe I would have to go from Singapore to Australia, South Africa and Dubai. After five, six or seven tournaments, it would make you feel like you had travelled twice around the world.

"On the other hand, in the States I can play five tournaments on the West Coast and feel much stronger going to the Masters."

And what of Garcia, who had only one birdie on his card? "I hit good putts but didn't hole any of them." But at least he was at peace with the world.