Dougherty's Ryder Cup bid boosted by flying start

HOLING a 142-yard shot for an eagle two was an unexpected bonus for Nick Dougherty today as he resumed his bid to get back into the Ryder Cup race.

The Liverpool golfer shared the lead with 49-year-old Australian Peter Fowler on three under par after 11 holes of the SAS Masters in Stockholm, the third-to-last event in the year-long qualifying
battle.

Dougherty led the cup race when he won the Dunhill Links at St Andrews last October but, after the death of his mother in April following a heart attack, he is now only 15th and has not managed a top 50 placing in his last seven starts.

Back on the Arlandastad course where he was a joint runner-up last year, Dougherty looked like dropping a stroke straightaway as he teed off on the back nine in wind and rain.

But a 30-foot putt saved him an opening par and his eagle came with a wedge – the hole was playing downwind – shortly afterwards.

Not that he knew it had gone in for several minutes. There was only a ripple of applause from the few spectators up at the green and it was not until playing partner Robert Karlsson peered into the cup that there was confirmation.

It had gone straight in on the fly and a referee was needed to repair the hole before the next group could play it.

Dougherty, surprised that ninth-placed Oliver Wilson and tenth-placed Soren Hansen were both having a week off after missing the cut like him in last week's US PGA, then added a birdie on the 399-yard 14th.

Victory on Sunday would move him right on to their heels heading into the KLM Open in Holland and Johnnie Walker Championship in Scotland, after which captain Nick Faldo will add two wild cards to the top ten
qualifiers.

Fowler, trying to become the oldest winner in European Tour history, dropped a shot on the third then had five birdies in nine holes before bogeying the 13th.

American DJ Trahan, playing on a sponsor's invitation, was treating the trip as a break from the US Tour, but it still carried importance since he is among the leading candidates for one of Paul Azinger's four wild cards in two weeks' time.

However, Trahan bogeyed the first two holes and was still two over after 11.

Compatriot Dudley Hart stood level par with six to play, while Bristol's Chris Wood, a brilliant fifth at The Open last month, was making his professional debut later in the day.