| Crans-sur-Sierre,
Switzerland, 4th September 1998 -
Patrik Sjoland launched his Ryder Cup bid with the midway lead in the European
Masters on Friday but Nick Faldo's quest for early points ended in failure.
The Swede's second round
five-under-par 66 took him to an 11-under total of 131. It was a stroke better
than overnight leader Darren Clarke (68), surprise Swiss challenger Cristophe
Bovet (64) and Germany's Sven Struver, whose 63 was the best of the tournament.
A long way back,
six times major-winner Faldo missed his first European Tour cut in 4-1/2 years.
Despite rallying
bravely with birdies at three of the last four holes, Faldo agonisingly missed
the weekend and Ryder points from this first event to count. His 70 gave him 141,
one shot too many. "I
played lousy," conceded Faldo after the first of four European tournaments
aimed at gaining early cup points to avoid having to rely on another wild-card
team place. "I
knew that two-under-par was the number I had to shoot to make the cut but now
I'll go back to England and put in some hard practice before my next event, the
Lancome Trophy in a fortnight. "I
don't know if I'll consult my coach David Leadbetter. I have some good swing thoughts,
especially towards the end, and it's a case of finding something to free the swing
up. "I'll
work on my putting, work on my touch, do a lot of short-game. It was hard for
me on the greens because they are new and have a lot of subtle humps." While
there was dismay for Faldo, there were injury worries for Colin Montgomerie, who
twisted the same ankle he turned in the Irish Open six weeks ago. Together
with a stiff neck he suffered while driving to Crans, the five times European
number one will start the third round five off the pace after a 66. Current
European number one Lee Westwood birdied five of the first six holes. But back-nine
bogeys for a 68 dropped him to 138. Sjoland
mounted his bid with an eagle, four birdies and just one bogey.
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