Swedish playing partners Jesper Parnevik and Patrik Sjoland consoled each other tonight after falling 10 shots behind French leader Jean Van de Velde at the Open.

Instead of inspiring each others, Parnevik shot 78 and Sjoland a 77.

Parnevik, twice a runner-up and fourth last year, saw his hopes nosedive when he ran up a triple-bogey seven on the 11th.

Sjoland, never in contention for a Major before, was joint leader when he birdied the first and third, but there were to be no more all day - and eight bogeys.