Paul McGinley, in the 10th and last automatic spot in the Ryder Cup race with only one more week to go, stood only two over.

But the failure of Fredrik Jacobson to make a big move and Haeggman’s withdrawal boosted the Dubliner’s hopes of winning a second cap.

Some of the best golfers in the world were being seen at nothing like their best in Akron today.

Vijay Singh and Ernie Els, both of whom could end Tiger Woods’ five-year reign as world number one this weekend, were paired together for the second round of the rain-hit NEC world championship.

But they reached the turn four over and five over par respectively as the efforts of a hard season appeared to be catching up with them.

With the field down to 75 players after the withdrawal of Swede Haeggman – he began with an 80 and aborted his last-but-one chance to get into the Ryder Cup team – US PGA champion Singh was down in joint 59th place and Els in a tie for 68th.

Alongside the South African, who had to finish in the top three to have a chance of unseating Woods, was Masters champion Phil Mickelson.

Woods was going much better at three under, good enough for a share of seventh spot.

Leading European is Sergio Garcia, joint fourth on four under, while Ryder Cup hopeful Thomas Levet was one further back.

Colin Montgomerie, needing a top-nine finish at worst to keep alive the possibility that he will not need one of cup captain Bernhard Langer’s two wild cards, was joint 25th on one under after an incident-packed round.

Montgomerie – who admits he is still having trouble sleeping after the break-up of his marriage four months ago – pitched to two feet on the first, dropped four shots on the following three holes and then played the next seven in three under.