Early exit beckons for Bjorn
Thomas Bjorn’s defence of the British Masters title was in severe danger of ending early after a wretched start to his second round at The Belfry today.
Already three over par after an opening 75 the Ryder Cup Dane probably needed a 69 to have any chance of surviving the halfway cut.
But Bjorn, who beat David Howell and Brian Davis in a play-off at the nearby Forest of Arden last year, saw his approach to the 311-yard 10th spin into the water.
He double-bogeyed the hole and instantly slumped to five over – 11 adrift of leaders Darren Clarke and Peter Hanson.
Clarke was among the later starters, but Swede Hanson was in the first group back on the course at 7.30am and parred his first six holes.
There was one saving grace for Liverpool fan Bjorn. Missing the cut would guarantee he takes his seat at tomorrow’s FA Cup final after he, Clarke and Paul McGinley had laid plans for a dash by helicopter after their third rounds.
Arsenal supporter Ian Poulter, who is intending to fly to Paris on the eve of next week’s Irish Open so he can watch the Champions League final, would love to be going there with another title under his belt.
And the chances of that improved when he birdied the 419-yard 11th to improve to joint third place on five under.
However, US Open champion Michael Campbell three-putted from the fringe of the same green and slipped to four under and Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam bogeyed there as well to be three under.
Lee Westwood made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 10th and was three under, but gave the stroke back two holes later, pulling his tee shot and then chipping off the other side of the green.
Padraig Harrington opened with a 75 like Bjorn, but his hopes of qualifying for the weekend improved when he converted a 20-foot chance on the 11th.
Paul Casey (five under), David Howell (two under), Colin Montgomerie (level) and McGinley (three over) were other late starters.
