Changed times for Sandelin

Once renowned for his sartorial eccentricity, Finnish-born Swede Jarmo Sandelin has at last managed to redirect the publicity…

Once renowned for his sartorial eccentricity, Finnish-born Swede Jarmo Sandelin has at last managed to redirect the publicity to his accomplishments on the golf course. Sunday's play-off victory in the German Open over South African Retief Goosen confirmed a place for the flamboyant Sandelin in the Ryder Cup against the Americans later this year.

It was the Swede's second victory this season following on his success in the Spanish Open. Although endowed with natural ability Sandelin rarely fulfilled his potential, hung-up on overpowering courses, blasting them into submission. He hasn't sacrificed too much of his prodigious length but in the last 12 months his mental progression has transformed his game.

In 1996 he won his card to play on the US PGA tour but failed to make a cut in 16 appearances. And then there was the haute couture. A penchant for skin-tight towelling shirts with collars designed by Boeing and drainpipe trousers ensured that he was an easily discernible figure on the course. His choice of footwear also raised a few eyebrows.

So attached was he to a pair of crocodile skin boots that he had spikes hammered into the soles and proceeded to wear them at Wentworth. Nor was his eccentricity limited to clothes. A couple of years ago at the K-Club, preparing for a round in the Smurfit European Open, he appeared to tire of the monotonous ball striking. Instead he casually flicked a ball into the air and proceeded to hit it, baseball style with his driver. It travelled a fair distance.

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Having recently been measured for Ryder Cup attire one can only ponder how Sandelin is likely to personalise the look. The Boston clash with the Americans is something to which the Swede is looking forward. "It's hard to put into words what qualifying for the Ryder Cup means. It is the big team event that you want to play in because you play for the team and not yourself.

"It's always good to play together and you get closer to the other guys. I know it's going to be tough but hopefully I can handle it. I am a lot better prepared than a couple of years ago."

Padraig Harrington improved his chances of a Ryder Cup place with a share of sixth place and a cheque for €21,428 while Paul McGinley finished seven shots further back on 285. Neither player will be in action in this week's Moroccan Open at the Golf Royal D'Agadir course. The prize fund of €490,000 means that most of the European tour's top professionals will forego the pleasure.

The obvious counter-attraction of the US Open at Pinehurst No 2 commandeered many of the top Europeans including Ireland's Darren Clarke and this has provided for a considerably weakened field in Morocco. The only Category One players to enter were Italy's Costantino Rocca and Zimbabwean Tony Johnstone.

Miguel Angel Martin, Ignacio Garrido, Alex Cejka and Roger Wessels, along with the aforementioned duo should contest top spot. The weakened field provides an opportunity for the Irish trio of Raymond Burns, Gary Murphy and Francis Howley: Philip Walton also plays.

Burns will be hoping to salvage something from a season that has been blighted by illness. He contracted a virus in the opening event of the Challenge Tour in Kenya and only reappeared on that circuit last week when he missed the cut in Austria.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer