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**truebluefan** · 06-16-2008, 09:52 AM

Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands

**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:40 AM

With two weeks left in Europe's Ryder Cup race, Nick Dougherty now knows it could all come down to what sort of hotel bed he gets at The KLM Open in Holland.

The 26 year old has put himself back into contention by finishing joint second to Swede Peter Hanson at the SAS Masters in Stockholm - but only after going through the pain barrier.

Dougherty woke up before the final round with back trouble and was glad for once his chiropractor was not out on tour with him.

"If there was a chance of me doing some long-term damage he would have told me to pull the plug and quit," said the Englishman, returning to form after the understandable slump that followed his mother's death in April.

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**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:41 AM

Justin Rose is taking nothing for granted as he looks to book his place in Europe’s Ryder Cup Team with a fine display at The KLM Open in Holland this week.

With two weeks to go in the race for Ryder Cup places, the man ranked 12th in the world and eighth on the points list looks set for a Cup debut, but he is leaving nothing to chance.

"I might not need to make one more Euro, but by coming here it's in my hands," he said.

"It's certainly a situation where I would not feel comfortable sitting in the States. But I am still in a very comfortable situation - the other three (who would need to overtake him to push out of automatic qualification) are really sweating over it."

Rose is €57,468 ahead of Oliver Wilson, who in turn is €3,021 ahead of Soren Hansen. The closest gap, though, is between Hansen and 11th placed Martin Kaymer, who are separated by a mere €268.

A top three finish should virtually guarantee Rose a first cap, but he still has the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles if he needs more points. If his selection is dependant on a wild card pick from Captain Nick Faldo, Rose is confident he will not be over-looked in favour of more experienced players.

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**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:42 AM

All the talk might be of Europe’s Ryder Cup hopefuls, but it was Rolf Muntz stealing the early headlines at The KLM Open first round.

The Dutchman, who has not won a tournament since he scooped the Qatar Masters title eight years ago, bounced back to form with a flawless six under par round of 64.

It gives him the clubhouse lead in just his fifth event on The European Tour this season, while his nearest rival is Jean-Baptiste Gonnet three strokes further back.

No fewer than five other players - including Justin Rose - are also on three under.

Muntz looked impressive from the start, collecting birdies at the second and sixth in a front nine of 34, but it was coming back in where he looked strongest.

He picked up strokes at each of the tenth, 11th and 12th holes before sinking another birdie putt at the par four 16th.

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**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:43 AM

A relieved Justin Rose stayed on course for a Ryder Cup debut next month with a three under par opening round of 67 at the KLM Open in Holland.

After hardly sleeping during the night - he said his post-dinner coffee "must have been rocket fuel" - Rose was nowhere near as rested as he wanted to be.

But he kept a bogey off his card to be in joint second place midway through the day's play, three behind Dutch pacesetter Rolf Muntz, who shot a brilliant 64.

"I'm looking forward to an afternoon nap," said the World Number 12, who lies eighth in the Cup table.

“I thrive in my sleep so when I got up this morning I knew that it was going to be a long day. But considering all that it was good – I managed to soot 67 with no bogeys which is great. I just think that I managed my game well today.

“I knew that my finish today, the seventh eighth and ninth was a really tough stretch, and I almost accepted the fact that I would drop one there, so to get out of it bogey-free was a result.”

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**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:44 AM

Soren Hansen has struggled of late and Justin Rose has been losing sleep, but both took big strides towards securing their Ryder Cup places at The KLM Open on Thursday.

Their revivals were not big enough to see them catch Dutchman Rolf Muntz, who was the star of the opening round at the Kennemer Golf and Country Club with a six under par 64, but they are firmly in contention.

For Denmark’s Hansen, who shot a brilliant 65 to share second with John Bickerton, it could mean the end of a mini-slump. In his last four events, his best position has been a tie for 64th at The Open Championship, but his form here seems inspired.

His front nine was going well with birdies at the second, third and eighth before the wind was sapped from his sails by a double bogey six at the ninth.

However, rather than crumble, he hit back with what he called a "spectacular" inward 30 that featured birdies at the tenth, 12th, 16th and 18th holes.

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**truebluefan** · 08-22-2008, 11:45 AM

Robert Rock and Alexander Noren have set the second round clubhouse lead at eight under par at The KLM Open, but Henrik Stenson is breathing down their necks.

The Swede, who is already safely in Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup Team after finishes of third and fourth at The Open Championship and US PGA Championship, shot a brilliant 65 to go seven under overall.

It leaves him in a fine position from which to chase his first title of the season - something the Swede is determined to do ahead of the Cup..

He said: "It was nice to get out of the tight pack for the Ryder Cup and it's very exciting to see how the team is shaping up.

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**truebluefan** · 08-23-2008, 11:52 AM

Darren Clarke gave a huge boost to his hopes of a Ryder Cup wild card by charging into a share of the halfway lead at The KLM Open in Holland.

The 40 year old Northern Irishman wanted to show Nick Faldo he has form as well as experience and did just that with a sparkling six under par 64.

It was his lowest score in a European Tour event since his unforgettable round of 60 during The European Open at The K Club in 1999 and he is now eight under par alongside England's Robert Rock and Swede Alexander Noren.

"I need to play well this well and next week and so far this week I've done that," said Clarke, who kept a bogey off his card on a Kennemer course he had never seen until this week.

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**truebluefan** · 08-23-2008, 11:53 AM

Chapchai Nirat and Lee Slattery emerged unscathed from some difficult weather to set the early third round clubhouse lead at four under par at The KLM Open.

It is still a way short of the eight under par mark reached by Darren Clarke, Robert Rock and Alexander Noren after 36 holes, but their respective rounds of 66 and 67 were good considering the one hour interruption caused by lightning.

Especially impressive was Nirat's recovery from a slow start. The Thai shot a bogey six at the second, but responded with birdies at the seventh and ninth to go out in 35.

Another stroke followed at the tenth before an eagle at the 12th took him to four under for his round and the tournament. A string of six pars followed to give him a score of 66.

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**truebluefan** · 08-23-2008, 11:54 AM

Ryder Cup hopeful Oliver Wilson has set the early clubhouse lead at five under par after shooting a fine third round score of 66 at The KLM Open.

It is still a way short of the eight under par mark reached by Darren Clarke, Robert Rock and Alexander Noren after 36 holes, but it was especially good considering the one hour interruption caused by lightning.

He started in quiet fashion, taking par at each of the first five holes, but reignited his charge with birdies at both the sixth and seventh.

The Englishman, who is currently ninth in the Ryder Cup standings, then collected a third birdie at the 12th before finishing on a high with a birdie at the last.

Elsewhere, Chapchai Nirat and Lee Slattery moved to four under par after 54 holes.

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