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 anybody, or play on my own," joked Hansen after a second-round 67 which contained 10 birdies, including six in his first seven holes.
The round 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.
Another set for a Ryder Cup debut is Graeme McDowell who will not be best pleased with his preparation. Nevertheless he remains best placed of the Irish, along with Damien McGrane, on one over after a 73. The latter shot a 75.
Rounds of 74 left Paul McGinley and Darren Clarke on three over and six over respectively, while Peter Lawrie shot a a76 to slump to four-over-par.
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 match-play format as Europe seek an unprecedented fourth straight victory against the United States.
"I definitely lost that hole in match-play, 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. Yesterday 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 somebody who has tried it before.
"It would be nice, like today at 11, to have somebody to back me up at that particular moment. You never know what can happen and a guy who can back you up if you're struggling is very important."
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.
The Swede feels the Ryder Cup's proximity 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.
