Golf: Bjorn builds Europe's Ryder morale

Last week in Paris, Mark O'Meara left something of a dent in Europe's preparations for Valderrama with his victory in the Lancome Trophy. Today, at the One2One British Masters, Thomas Bjorn has the opportunity to redress the balance.

With less than a week to go before he becomes Denmark's first representative in the Ryder Cup, Bjorn's 66 in the third round at the Forest of Arden left him just two behind Greg Turner. The Kiwi, whose wife Jane is expecting their first child next week, birdied the last three holes in his 66 to finish at 11 under. "It would be nice to put some money in the bank with the baby on the way," Turner said. "Rumour has it they can be expensive."

Bjorn went to the turn in 32 but his forward progress was halted by his only bogey of the day at the 13th. Not for long, however. In an impressive finish the 26-year-old birdied each of the 15th, 16th and 17th and gained a par at the last. This came after days of hard practice last week. "I am striking the ball well," Bjorn said. "Playing well here means I will go to Valderrama with a lot of confidence, which I have not had for quite some time."

It was only at the last qualifying tournament, the BMW International in Munich, that Bjorn secured his place after a season hampered by injuries. "The BMW showed me that when I am 100 per cent focused on what I have to do, I can produce good scores. Even though I was not playing well, I still produced the numbers when I had to. It gave me the belief that I should be on the team."

With seven of the eight European Ryder Cup men here making the cut when the second round was finally completed early yesterday morning, there were other encouraging signs. Colin Montgomerie scored a 67, his first "half-decent round in a while". At three under, he reckoned he needed a 63 to win. "I have done that before," said the course record holder.

Darren Clarke is also on three under after missing a number of good chances this week. On the debit side, Jose Maria Olazabal admitted he was still struggling as he shot a 70, but not as much as Ignacio Garrido with a 76, Ian Woosnam, who had two double bogeys in his 75, or Costantino Rocca with a 73.

A win from anyone of them would make it a cheerier flight from Heathrow to Malaga tomorrow. "It would certainly give the player concerned a boost, and give the team a lift," Sam Torrance said. "It would stamp out the memory of O'Meara."

Victory for Torrance would, more than anything else, be very frustrating for the Scot who will forever be recalled as the man who sealed Europe's win in the Ryder Cup in 1985. Ten miles down the road from The Belfry, it does not matter how well Torrance plays, he will not be making the journey from the Birmingham Bullring to the land of the bullring.

Torrance played on every Ryder Cup team from 1981, when the United States won by the trifling margin of 181/2-91/2, to Europe's victory at Oak Hill two years ago. But he failed to qualify this time and, instead, will be watching every shot hit via television, and probably a direct line to his bookmakers.

A round of 66, six under par, yesterday, which included five birdies in a row, put Torrance, at six under, within range of a title he won at Collingtree Park the week before travelling to Oak Hill in '95. "It would be fabulous to win," said the 44-year-old Scot. "It might make it hurt more, but it is my own fault. No excuses. I didn't play well enough."

Not even playing 12 weeks in a row at the end of the qualifying succeeded in giving Torrance a place. The last time he was in contention was at the English Open in May. "There haven't been many highs this season," he said, "apart from the scores."

There was one consolation, a very small one, that he could find in not being at Valderrama. "I would not like to hit a bad shot in front of Seve," he said of Europe's leader. "He's so up against the Americans, it's frightening. More so as he's captain. He'll be running around like a headless chicken."