For a competitive sportsman, nothing is more likely to heal bruised morale quicker than an early victory. But in the case of Spain's Sergio Garcia, who is at The K Club for this week's Smurfit European Open, it came earlier than even his optimistic young heart could have hoped.

On returning to Valencia after a wretched British Open in which he carded rounds of 89 and 83 at Carnoustie, the only route back to competitive well-being appeared to be through dedicated practice. The disappointing condition of Club de Golf del Mediterraneo, however, made it an uninviting prospect.

"That was when I learned there was a local tournament last week for players in the Valencia region," he said yesterday. "It was only 30 minutes from my home, so I entered - and I won."

The 54-hole event, involving some of Spain's Challenge Tour players, was held at the fine Escorpion course where Robert Karlsson won the Mediterranean Open in 1995. And Garcia shot rounds of 71, 66, 67 for a 12-under-par aggregate and a fivestroke win last Saturday.

So, what was the reward for the 19-year-old, who earned Stg £166,660 for his victory in the Murphy's Irish Open at Druids Glen early this month? "I don't know and I don't care," he replied. "The important thing for me was that I was back playing well again. And I knew people were wrong when they said I had lost my game at Carnoustie."

He went on: "I knew in my heart that what happened in Scotland was just a bad week. I wasn't worried. In fact I learned the important lesson that you must be patient in the British Open, especially in difficult conditions. I think maybe I am now a stronger player because of it."

The gifted Spaniard was having his first experience of The K Club, which was shown off to magnificent effect by yesterday's sunshine. And before playing the front nine, he knew what to expect from chatting to his good friend, Miguel Angel Martin, who played in the European Open in 1995 and 1996 before being forced out of action with a wrist injury.

"It is a very fine course, but I would prefer it with a bit more wind," said Martin. "I would also like to see the rough higher than it is. Nine centimetres (four inches) is not enough."

Martin's accuracy off the tee was very much in evidence in a third round of 72 at Carnoustie, on the way to a share of 24th place behind Paul Lawrie. Garcia and Martin practised alongside each other yesterday, while the youngster's father, Victor, kept a watchful eye. And they even took to hitting some shots with their eyes shut, by way of preparation for last night's charity event for the blind, at the Spawell in Dublin.

In the process, Martin added to the enlightenment of the small group of onlookers. The player who equalled the course record of 62 at Druids Glen during this year's Irish Open illustrated the problems facing blind golfers. After setting himself up to a shot, he closed his eyes for the actual hit. And the contact was decidedly fat. "You see, it's not easy," he said.

In mid-afternoon, he and Garcia headed for the first hole where they faced a fresh breeze from the south-west. Given the conditions, there was clearly no way he could hope to match the striking of Tiger Woods, who reached the green with a drive and four iron during a visit last year.

As it happened, Garcia needed a driver, three wood and a wedge on this formidable par five. He carried his own clubs halfway down the fairway before his American caddie, Jerry Higginbotham, arrived to take over the job.

The Spaniard is scheduled to return to the US after this tournament. He has not played there since finishing in a share of 11th place in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village on June 6th. As it happens, he is currently 125th in the US money list with American earnings of $202,650 since he turned professional in April.

He plans to play next week's Buick Open at Warwick Hills before going on to the USPGA Championship at Medinah. But he has now decided that his position in the Ryder Cup table will dictate whether he remains in the US for the Sprint International at Castle Pines, where he is also scheduled to play.

"If I have not qualified for the Ryder Cup by then, I will return to Europe and play in the BMW International Open," he said. At the moment, he is in 12th place and though the indications are that Mark James would want Garcia in his line-up, things would be a lot easier for the European skipper if the Spaniard qualified.

When I suggested that Medinah offered him the chance of valuable points, he quickly interjected: "And here too. I could win here."

For a proud young Spaniard, the indignity of shooting 172 for 36 holes at Carnoustie is certain to endure for some time. A more realistic pointer to Garcia's prodigious talent, however, is to be found in the consistency of his play in other events on this side of the Atlantic over the last month.

Victory at Druids Glen was achieved through rounds of 69, 68, 67 and a magnificent, closing 64 for a stunning aggregate of 268. And his next competitive round was an opening 62 in the Standard Life Loch Lomond Invitational in which he went on to compile an aggregate of 271.

So, in eight tournament rounds prior to the British Open, he was 33 under par while breaking 70 on six occasions. And if one adds his three rounds at Escorpion last week, the total becomes 45 under par for 11 rounds - an average of just over four under par per round.

While negotiating the outward journey at The K Club yesterday he was obviously enjoying the challenge it offered, both in power and shot-making. And it was equally clear that he the medium-paced greens, which will quicken as the week progresses, were also to his liking.

Indeed the general demeanour of the young man they call El Nino, suggested that the bruising of Carnoustie has effectively healed.

Seve Ballesteros withdrew from the tournament yesterday because of injury.