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**truebluefan** · 06-16-2008, 09:54 AM

Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland

**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:17 PM

Oliver Wilson could this weekend become the first player to grab a Ryder Cup cap for Europe without ever winning a tournament in his professional career.

The 27 year old from England is hoping, though, that he does not earn that distinction. His aim is to qualify by capturing the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Sunday.

If Wilson, who sits in the tenth and last automatic spot entering the final counting event, can do that he will have something in common with Captain Nick Faldo.

Back in 1977 Faldo's debut against the Americans came a month after his first Tour win - also at Gleneagles in a tournament called the Skol Lager Individual.

He beat Craig Defoy and Chris Witcher in a play-off, with Tony Jacklin a shot behind.

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**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:19 PM

If the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles is anything like The KLM Open last week, Denmark's Soren Hansen has more agonies to go through before he knows whether he has achieved his Ryder Cup dream.

"I must like torture," said Hansen on Sunday after achieving the sixth-place finish in Holland which lifted him from tenth to ninth on the Cup points table for the European Team.

Far from it being plain sailing, the 34 year old had to battle back from a double bogey at the start of his second and final rounds and from a triple bogey eight on the second hole of his third round.

He added: "It was like a big knock on the head each day, but I really battled and now I'm very close to something I really want."

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**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:20 PM

Colin Montgomerie is relishing the prospect of winning the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and making the job of Ryder Cup Captain Nick Faldo even more interesting.

Montgomerie, who is preparing for the final event ahead of Europe's Team announcement, is “confident” of his chances of winning the tournament which has a first prize of €292,355.

But even if he grabs that on Sunday the highest that the 45 year old Scot - a star of the last eight matches against the Americans - can finish on the points table is 15th.

That would leave him needing one of two wild cards from Captain Faldo - and he is in good company in that queue.

Paul Casey and Darren Clarke - a winner on Sunday at The KLM Open in Holland - are among the favourites, while Ian Poulter is now in the mix because of his decision to stay in America this week.

Montgomerie, however, has a Cup pedigree that gives him reason to be confident. His record shows he has never been beaten in singles and is two wins away from passing Faldo as the event's record points-scorer.

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**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:21 PM

Gregory Havret shot a superb round of 68 to set the early clubhouse lead at five under par, but Europe’s Ryder Cup contingent were having less fun at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The Frenchman, vying for his first win on The European Tour since he claimed the The Barclays Scottish Open last year, started on the back nine and reached the turn in 34 to go three under.

He then suffered his only wobble of the day with a bogey at the first before promptly recovering with a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth.

It leaves him two strokes ahead of Paul Broadhurst and Christian Cévaër, who both shot rounds of 70, while Gary Orr of Scotland is currently three under through 15.

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**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:22 PM

Robert Rock leads the field at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles after a flying start to his second round.

Rock had moved to six under par after eight holes to move ahead of overnight leader Gregory Havret, who was amongst the late starters.

Starting at the tenth, Rock birdied his opening hole and then repeated the trick at the par four 14th.

He dropped a shot at 15 for the second day running but an eagle at the next saw him move clear of the chasing pack.

Justin Rose was amongst those battling for the lead in the early stages, and Colin Montgomerie was bursting through the field as well in a last-ditch attempt to earn a ninth Ryder Cup cap through a wild card from captain Nick Faldo.

Rose can also book his place in Faldo’s side with a good performance here, and a first win of the year is the way the 28-year-old really wants to clinch his first appearance against the Americans.

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**truebluefan** · 08-29-2008, 09:23 PM

Grégory Havret holds the halfway lead in the Johnnie Walker Championship after leapfrogging Robert Rock during the closing holes of his second round.

Havret - the overnight leader after an opening 68 - compiled a 71 to move to seven under par for the tournament at Gleneagles.

The Frenchman bogeyed the par four opener but atoned for his error at the next with a four on the par five second.

Two more bogeys were followed by three birdies before Havret found trouble at 15, eventually posting a double bogey six.

But at the par five next he replied with an eagle to pull level with Rock. And a birdie at the last confirmed Havret would head the field going into the weekend.

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**truebluefan** · 08-31-2008, 07:36 PM

Daniel Vancsik shot a brilliant round of 67 to take the clubhouse lead at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The Argentine - who needed a 71 yesterday just to make the cut after opening with a 77 - shot seven birdies and a solitary bogey to close the gap on overnight leader Gregory Havret to three shots at Gleneagles.

Oliver Wilson put himself on the brink of a Ryder Cup debut with an impressive third round 68 to move through the field into a share of 16th overall on three under par for the tournament.

Wilson, in the hot seat of tenth on the points table entering the last counting event, made the halfway cut with nothing to spare last night after fighting back from six over par to two over.

That left Ross Fisher needing to finish third or Nick Dougherty second just to have a chance - even that might not be enough - but midway through their rounds they were not in the top 20.

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**truebluefan** · 08-31-2008, 07:37 PM

Stephen Gallacher shot the best round of the week to set the clubhouse target of seven under par at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The Scot’s sparkling 65 saw him move level with overnight leader Gregory Harvet until the Frenchman made an impressive start to his third round at Gleneagles.

Gallacher was joined on seven under in the clubhouse by Sweden’s Peter Hanson, who was also in fine form with a 66.

Gallacher opened with back-to-back birdies to set the tone for his round and he didn’t drop a shot at any stage.

He had to wait until the turn before picking up another stroke but birdies at nine, ten and 12 moved him firmly into contention.

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**truebluefan** · 08-31-2008, 07:38 PM

Grégory Havret overcame a second consecutive double bogey at the 15th to maintain his narrow advantage at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

The Frenchman shot a 69 to move to 11 under par at Gleneagles, enough to give him a one shot advantage over Anthony Wall.

By the time Havret started his round he had been caught at the top of the leaderboard but jumped into a two-stroke lead with an eagle on the 516 yard second.

He then parred the next six holes before a four on the par five ninth took him to three under for the day.

A birdie-bogey-birdie run through the 12th, 13th and 14th strengthened Havret’s position but then he took six shots on the par four 15th for the second day running.

An instant reply at 16 saw him pull a stroke back and when he registered a four on the par five 18th Havret ensured he would be the man to catch on the final day.

Havret said: "It's going to be a big hunt tomorrow, especially with those Ryder Cup guys. I heard the weather will be bad, but we'll see. It's going to be quite open, for sure.

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