WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS:Europe's Ryder Cup race could well be led tomorrow night by a player who has appeared in the continent just three times in the past five seasons.
Swede Fredrik Jacobson leads the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a second-round 66 took him to 11 under par, one ahead of Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.
The 37-year-old has based himself in America since 2004, the year he just missed out on selection for the match in Detroit, and achieved his first USPGA Tour victory in June.
Now, poised as he is for a return to the world’s top 50, making a debut under Jose Maria Olazabal in Chicago next September is on his radar.
“I just went through a few years where I didn’t really focus on the Ryder Cup as much,” Jacobson said after leaving Lee Westwood four back and Rory McIlroy six adrift.
“The kids were so small and I felt America was a big enough challenge, which I still think it is. But the kids are slightly older, so I do feel that Ryder Cup would be one of my main goals for next year. I’m starting to get into a lot of the tournaments where I can create points both on the European list and when it comes to world ranking points.”
Jacobson, third in Malaysia last weekend, did not drop a stroke as he took over at the top from American Keegan Bradley, who with a two-under 70 slipped back to fourth spot.
South African Oosthuizen had a nine-birdie 63, while Scott set up the chance of a second successive World Golf Championships win with a 65.
Westwood birdied three of the last six holes for a 68 and the last of them edged him ahead of a group which includes English colleagues Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Simon Dyson as well as Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy improved only one position to joint 17th with a 69 that contained seven birdies, but also four bogeys.
“I was just always trying to play catch up,” the 22-year-old US Open champion said. “I’ll need to do something pretty good over the weekend if I want to try and win this tournament.”
Michael Hoey is on two over after carding a two-under 70, while Darren Clarke is five over after a 76.
EUROPEAN TOUR GRAND FINAL:On a day of contrasting emotions, Simon Thornton, father to a new baby boy the previous night, overcame illness and battled to a solid 71 on the third day of the Challenge Tour Grand Final to keep his hopes of a European Tour card for 2012 on track.
With the top 20 earning their cards for next season, Thornton put his emotions to one side to earn a share of 30th position going into the final round in Puglia, Italy.
He finished the day five under par for the tournament, 12 shots behind leader Andrea Pavan, after three birdies had put him three under through 11 holes, before succumbing to tiredness and carding three bogeys on the way home.
