It has become a real nail-biter with 36 holes to play, both for the last three of the 10 automatic places and, for all we know, the two captain’s picks as well. Bernhard Langer is keeping his wild cards close to his chest.

The one to make a big move today was Swede Fredrik Jacobson, round in 65 and at eight under par lying joint fourth, one behind England’s David Lynn and US Open champion Retief Goosen and two behind Jimenez, who added a 66 to his opening 68.

But Ian Poulter’s 66 was a brilliant response because, after an opening 73, the man ninth in the points table was in severe danger of missing the halfway cut and opening the door.

If Jacobson wins on Sunday he is in the team. Even if he is fifth it could be good enough, but not judging by the way Poulter, Paul McGinley, and David Howell have played so far. They might be feeling the pressure, but they are coping well with it to this point.

On a day when 11th-placed Jean-Francois Remesy and 14th-placed Brian Davis were the only players to drop out of the race by missing the cut on level par - Davis because of a bogey six at the last and Remesy when he missed a five-foot eagle chance on the same hole – McGinley (10th), Poulter (ninth) and Howell (eighth) improved to six under, five under and three under respectively.

Meanwhile, wild card favourite Colin Montgomerie had a double bogey seven on the ninth, but still managed a 70 for seven under and Luke Donald, tipped to be Langer’s second choice going into the week, shot 71 for five under.

Jacobson is 26th on the world rankings, but finds himself vying with 70th-ranked Montgomerie, 48th-ranked Donald and 47th-ranked Alex Cejka for the wild cards.

Asked if he would be annoyed if he does not qualify automatically and then does not get selected he answered: “Yes and no. There are other players that would well deserve a spot, but that would be unfortunate for me.

“I would be annoyed that I’ve moved up these last couple of years to the position where I’m the number four ranked European in the world rankings and did not make it.

“That would be hard, but that has nothing to do with the other guys or who Bernhard would pick. It has more to do with the fact that I feel I’ve been in contention so many weeks that I feel I would be among the top 12 European players. Hopefully it works out fine.”

Jacobson has paid a price for dividing his time between America and Europe - and taking time out for the birth of his first child. He was lying second in a US Tour event in May when word came through and instantly pulled out.

If he had stayed and finished in the top five he would have been certain of his debut already.

The key for Poulter was watching - over and over again - a four minute video of his win in last year's Wales Open before he played.

“It put positive thoughts in my mind and I actually enjoyed today. I don’t know whether I did yesterday,” commented the Milton Keynes golfer.

“It was crunch time and I’m very pleased. It’s amazing what you can do when you concentrate properly. Now I’ve put myself in a position where I have a chance to win and I’m going to try to focus on that.

“If I play like I did today I can’t be caught.”

An eagle at the 481-yard sixth was the highlight.

McGinley missed an 18-inch putt for a bogey six on the 11th and said: “All I can do is play as hard as I can. Let’s not beat about the bush – it’s going to go down to the wire.

“The one thing I am conscious of not doing is trying to defend my position. I’ve played long enough to know that ain’t going to work. I’m playing as as aggressive as I can.

“I know it’s a tough school. We have world-class players out there.”

Howell was three over par prior to eagling the final hole of his first round and two over with 10 to play, so to get it back to three under said a lot about him.

“I was not in great shape, but I’m excited now. I’ve tried for 10 years and I’m two days away from hopefully getting in.”

Ready to celebrate his first cap is Paul Casey, who came into the week 99.9% certain to clinch his place and now, following two 69s, 99.999% certain.

Some thought Langer might have given Montgomerie the nod before it came to the final weekend, but the Scot said: “The answerphone is on, but it hasn’t rung!”

Jimenez and Goosen, with none of the same pressure on them, are the two favourites for the title, but Lynn is seeking his second successive tour title.

He broke his duck in the KLM Open in Holland three weeks ago.