Hansen and Karlsson hit form

EUROPEAN TOUR:SOREN HANSEN offered a unique solution to captain Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup selection headache after an exhilarating round in the defence of his Mercedes-Benz Championship.

"The way I played today I could play with anyone, or play on my own," joked Hansen after a second-round 67 which contained 10 birdies, including six in his first seven holes.

That left the Dane, set for his Ryder Cup debut at Valhalla next week, on four under par, four shots behind team-mate Robert Karlsson who added a 69 to his opening 67 to cement his return to form after a three-week lay-off.

Hansen did throw in one triple bogey and two bogeys in his round, but the 10 birdies in poor weather were more significant given next week's matchplay format as Europe seek an unprecedented fourth straight victory against the United States.

"I definitely lost that hole in matchplay, that's for sure," Hansen said of the par-three 11th, where he found a greenside bunker and then four-putted.

"I lost it a bit on 11 but got it straight back, which shows character once again and I'm really pleased with that.

"You're standing there before going out thinking this is going to be a round of survival because of the weather but I came out hitting good shots and making birdies and it just clicked.

"There's a lot of things going on with the Ryder Cup next week and defending here, and there's a lot of questions. In the first round I was tired but I had a good night's sleep and I felt ready to go."

As for prospective playing partners next week, the 34-year-old from Copenhagen added: "It would be nice to have some one who has tried it before."

Karlsson carded four birdies and just one bogey to hold a one-shot lead over France's Jean-Francois Lucquin, who recorded a 71 as he sought back-to-back victories following his maiden European Tour triumph in Switzerland on Sunday.

"It was important to forget about yesterday and how different the weather was," said Karlsson, seeking a first win of the season after nine top-10 finishes - including eighth in the US Masters, fourth in the US Open and seventh in the British Open.

"I tried to take it as a new challenge and not get caught up in the conditions because it was quite rotten when we were warming up with a lot of water in the bunker and it was close (to being suspended) for a while.

"I'm extremely happy with the round, especially playing in the last group when you are under a little more pressure. You just have to be in more and more situations like that to get used to it.

"If the win comes, it comes, but if not there are other years."

Inevitably the prospect of the Ryder Cup looming on the horizon came up, but Karlsson feels that could be working to his advantage.

"It takes some of the pressure off because if things are not going so well here I have something to look forward to next week."

Fellow Swede Peter Hanson is two shots off the lead on six under after a 69, while overnight joint-leader Richard Finch is another stroke adrift after a 73.

Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane are best of the Irish on 145, McDowell added a 73, while McGrane shot 75. Paul McGinley is on 147 after a 74, Peter Lawrie a shot back after a 76 and Darren Clarke is on 150 after a 74.