Denmark's Ryder Cup-chasing Soren Hansen was still in second place after three holes of his second round at the KLM Open in Holland — but plain sailing it certainly was not.
After coming home in 30 for an opening 65 that left him behind only Dutchman Rolf Muntz, Hansen resumed with a double-bogey six on the 447-yard 10th.
But the quietly-spoken 34-year-old, currently in the 10th and last automatic qualifying spot for Nick Faldo's side a mere €250 ahead of German Martin Kaymer, promptly birdied the next two holes to get back to five-under par.
Kaymer also birdied the long 12th but at one-over par was on the expected halfway cut mark — and if he bowed out his hopes of a cup debut next month would rest on next week's Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.
Muntz, the former British amateur champion who had to come through a qualifying event for the tournament after losing his European Tour card, was among the later starters.
Alongside Hansen were England's Robert Rock and John Bickerton and Sweden's world number six Henrik Stenson. Both Rock and Stenson birdied their first three holes this morning.
Justin Rose and Oliver Wilson, eighth and ninth on the cup table and three under and one under respectively, were other late starters.
Damien McGrane (three-under) and Darren Clarke (two-under) have yet to take to the course while Paul McGinley moved to one-under after seven holes this morning.
