Sergio Garcia had few problems in the opening stages of his final round as the Spaniard closed in on a first European Tour title for almost three years.
And while nobody looked like catching the 31 year old, the home crowds were facing the prospect of a Spanish one-two as Garcia’s friend and compatriot Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño moved into second place.
Garcia, eight clear overnight, birdied the fourth and fifth at the Castelló Masters to reach 21 under par at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo.
Fernandez-Castaño had cut his lead to seven with three birdies and an eagle in his first seven holes, and he was one ahead of Scot Richie Ramsay.
Four-time European Tour winner Fernandez-Castaño has been out for most of the year with a back problem that has left him 173rd on The Race to Dubai.
Even with Fernandez-Castaño going to the turn in a best-of-the-week 29 with an eagle and five birdies, Garcia remained firmly in control, adding further birdies at the eighth and ninth to turn seven clear at 23 under.
South African Thomas Aiken, meanwhile, had eight birdies in the first 13 holes to take over third place on 14 under.
Garcia was giving a masterclass, adding further birdies at the tenth, 11th and 14th to reach 26 under.
The gap was still eight, as Fernandez-Castaño hit back from a bogey at the start of the inward half with three more birdies of his own in the next four holes.
