Swedes Jarmo Sandelin and Mathias Gronberg
have separate missions in the Rio de Janeiro Open as the European Tour pays its
first visit to South America.
Last year's Ryder Cup man Sandelin has
decided to make the long trip for Thursday's start to ensure he has tournament
competition before playing for Europe in the Ballesteros Trophy next month.
Gronberg will be at the Itanhanga course
trying to secure the vacant ninth European place in the inaugural match between
Europe and Britain and Ireland by qualifying from the current rankings.
Sandelin has made it into Ballesteros's
Europe side to play Colin Montgomerie's Britain and Ireland from his order of
merit finish last year.
But now Sandelin, disappointed at playing
only 15 holes in last year's Ryder Cup clash, wants to make sure he is not rusty
by the time he lines up for Europe at Sunningdale.
"I've travelled thousands of miles to
make sure I don't let my team mates down," said the Finnish-born, 32-year-old
Sandelin.
"If I hadn't played for these next two
weeks it would have meant four weeks without competitive golf.
"So I've come here to get sharp for
the match. I want to enjoy this team event."
Gronberg lies 11th on the present order
of merit. Qualification, after the U.S. Masters completes, goes only to players
making the top 10.
So Gronberg, as the best-placed European,
could seal his Sunningdale place if he picks up the 108,000 dollars first prize.
If no-one qualifies from the current
rankings, another Swede, Robert Karlsson, will be awarded the place from last
year's order of merit.
Karlsson will also play in Rio, keeping
a watching brief on his compatriot.
