Woosie seeks winning return
Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam today moved into the hunt for a first European tour title for eight years.
The 47-year-old Welshman birdied four of his first five holes in the second round of the Madrid Open and at six under par was only two behind overnight leaders Mark Roe and Robert Karlsson – both of them late starters.
A bogey at the 422-yard 16th, his seventh, slowed Woosnam’s momentum and he had to be content with turning in 32 when he missed a five-foot birdie chance at the 18th.
The former Masters champion needed a good performance to avoid his worst finish on the Order of Merit since 1981 – back in the day when he used to travel the circuit in a camper van eating tins of beans to save money.
He currently stands 100th and has missed the cut in seven of his last nine starts.
Playing with Woosnam was Order of Merit leader Colin Montgomerie – and he was the one fighting to stay alive in the event.
From the high of battling with Tiger Woods and John Daly for a world title on Sunday Colin Montgomerie resumed on one over par – and fell to two over when he missed the green and failed to get up and down on the 411-yard 10th.
An event where the total purse of just under £690,000 (€1m) was less than Woods won at the American Express championship last week saw Montgomerie needing to improve on his opening 72 just to avoid an early return home.
But the Scot, back at the top of the money list after his third-place finish in San Francisco, was back on course to make it when he birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th. And he almost chipped in for another at the 18th.
Montgomerie, more than £90,000 (€131,255) clear of Michael Campbell, cannot clinch a record eighth crown this week, but missing the cut would open the door to the New Zealander and third-placed Retief Goosen at the season-ending Volvo Masters in two weeks’ time.
If Campbell won there he would be certain to finish top and if he was second Montgomerie would have to tie with him, while if Goosen – £207,000 (€300,000) behind at present – won Montgomerie would have to finish second.
