Woosnam back in the big time

Veteran Welshman Ian Woosnam stormed into contention at the Open on Saturday and admitted he had fallen back in love with golf.

Only three weeks ago, the long-serving former Masters champion admitted he was bored with the game, saying he would rather have a couple of pints than spend time practising.

But an exhilarating round with playing partner Bernhard Langer has rekindled Woosnam's fire, the contemporaries both shooting four-under-par rounds of 67 to move to six-under-par totals of 207, within a stroke of the lead.

With his switch to the long-handled putter reaping rich rewards on the greens especially, good enough to put him top of the tournament's putting statistics, Woosnam feels he has a real chance of winning his first British Open.

"I'm in love with golf again and I'm going to play as much as I can," the 43-year-old said. "I think golf's fantastic and I'm going to play 52 weeks of the year, Christmas as well!

"When your running around the world and bashing your head against a brick wall like I have for a while now, it's hard.

"I've been too aggressive in the past but now I'm hitting the middle of the greens and with my long putter I always feel I've got a chance from 25-30 feet.

"After my back nine on the first day I thought I wouldn't be here, but I realised you've got to be patient and just enjoy it.

"Anybody who's British wants to win the Open and I certainly do. This is my 20th time in it and I've only had four top-10s.

"My experience will be a help because I should know when to go for the pin and not to go for the pin at the wrong time."

Victory would also clinch Woosnam a place in Sam Torrance's European Ryder Cup team instead of carrying out the vice-captain's duties.

"If I do win this - or even come second - I'm in the Ryder Cup and that would be fantastic, so there's a lot at stake," he added. "I won't let it put pressure on me and I'm going out to enjoy it."

To prove his rejuvenation, the little Welshman conjured up a two-iron second shot to just five feet at the long 11th hole as he pursued the leaders.

And two birdies in the last four holes helped him keep pace with Langer and set up an intriguing final day for the two old campaigners.

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