Martin Kaymer flew to Spain happy just to be playing golf again.

But after two days of the Castello Masters everybody is now looking to see if the 24-year-old German can win again - and with it go back to the top of the European Tour money list.

He was sharing the lead with Australian Robert Allenby overnight, although the second round had still to be completed and defending champion Sergio Garcia, playing on his home course, was only one behind with three holes to go.

Winner of the French and Scottish Opens in July, Kaymer then came sixth in the USPGA Championship, his best finish yet in a major.

But a week later he decided to go go-karting and after being shunted from behind into the kart in front of him he suffered three broken toes and a big toe so badly pushed out of shape that it had to be broken and re-set.

Titanium plates and screws were then inserted and he was told it would be a year before he was 100%.

Yet here he is back in action two months later, albeit with a limp, and his first two rounds were 63 and 67 to be 12 under par.

Rory McIlroy and then Lee Westwood went past Kaymer on the "Race to Dubai" standings during his lay-off, but he will be number one once more by winning tomorrow.

Allenby has played most of his golf in America for the past decade, but rejoined to try to qualify for the Dubai World Championship next month and is 33rd on the money list from only 10 starts.

Garcia, though, remained favourite for what would be the first successful defence of his career.