Sandelin looks set for Ryder Cup debut

Colourful, extrovert, controversial. Pick any one or use all three - they describe Jarmo Sandelin, the Swede who is now on course for a Ryder Cup debut in September.

Sandelin's four-stroke victory in the Peugeot Spanish Open earned him £100,000 and sent him racing from 13th to fifth at the halfway point in the battle for places in Mark James's side for Boston.

The 31-year-old has been best known until now for what he wears, says or does. But the manner of his win in Barcelona demonstrated that purely as a golfer he is worth taking seriously.

Aside from his big-hitting with a 52-inch driver - the longest on the European tour - Sandelin showed a short game touch which joint runner-up Paul McGinley described as "spectacular."

The Finland-born, Monaco-based player said himself, in reference to the match against the Americans: "If I can keep playing at this level for sure I will be there."

The colourful side of his character is his attire. The see-through shirts and green crocodile skin golf boots are kept in the wardrobe most of the time now, but look for some garish, figure-hugging outfits or collars like wings and there you will find him - or fellow Swede Jesper Parnevik.

"When you wear different clothing," he says, "you take a risk, especially when you play bad. I wore the boots once last year and shot 80. Everybody said it was the boots.

"I like clothes. It's part of me and I have to have different things. You have not seen the worst yet!"

Sandelin's caddie is also his girlfriend and wherever they go they take time out to go shopping.

"It's good - I can concentrate on something other than golf. While we're in Turin this week for the Italian Open we'll go to Milan (about 100 miles away) and find something really nice."

This was Sandelin's third tour victory and he is close now to joining the circuit's Millionaires Club. But his biggest headlines have come in controversial circumstances.

He and American ace Phil Mickelson fell out during a Dunhill Cup match at St Andrews in 1996. Sandelin accused Michelson of not showing him respect, Mickelson took great exception to Sandelin's antics, which included using his putter like a machine-gun when he holed a putt. It was the year of Dunblane.

Twelve months ago Sandelin wanted Mark O'Meara, Masters champion at the time, to hand over the Lancome Trophy he had won the previous September. O'Meara had admitted he may have replaced his ball incorrectly during the final round, but escaped punishment because he insisted it was accidental. Sandelin had finished second and thought the win should become his.

Then back at the same event last autumn he and Lee Westwood were in dispute over an accusation that Sandelin's ball moved as he was about to tap in. The Swede denied it and no action was taken.

"I don't think too much about these things, but there are two sides," he said. "I don't try to step on anybody's feet and I don't want to be rude to anyone.

"I try to lead my life the best I can. I grew up the youngest of 12 children and I've been fighting all my life. I learnt very fast that if you are rude to somebody then somebody can be rude to you."

Memories of his childhood have been in the forefront of his mind recently following the death of his mother. He tearfully dedicated the Spanish Open success to her.

McGinley would have been second on his own but for a bogey on the short 17th. It cost him almost £22,000.

The Dubliner shared the position with Spaniards Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez and while Garrido chipped in at the last to make his biggest move yet towards retaining his Ryder Cup place, Jimenez's closing 64 makes him odds-on for a debut. He has leap-frogged over Lee Westwood into third place behind Colin Montgomerie and Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal.

Kent's Jamie Spence was the most disappointed man, falling from second with seven holes to play to an eventual joint fifth with a controversial seven on the long 12th.

Hoping for an eagle which would have cut Sandelin's lead to one Spence hooked his drive and saw the ball disappear in amongst some parked cars.

It could not be found, however, leaving Spence in no doubt that it had been picked up - not unheard of at Spanish Opens. He wanted a free drop beside the cars, but was told he had to go back to the tee under penalty.

Spence was made to feel worse by the fact that the cars should not have been there and also that the incident happened close to the spot where Seve Ballesteros wrongly dropped another ball last Thursday and was not disqualified.

"Somebody dropped a ball eight yards away from where they should and is still playing, whereas I get penalised," said Spence, not needing to name any names. "Without question the ball was picked up. Nothing else could have happened to it.

"Rules can be very, very unfair." Six years ago he was disqualified when leading the Rome Masters after what was viewed as a harsh ruling concerning the dropping of a ball.