Golf:Europe's Ryder Cup race could well be led on Sunday night by a player who has appeared in the continent just three times in the past five seasons. Fredrik Jacobson leads the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after a second-round 66 today took him to 11 under par, one ahead of Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.
The 37-year-old has based himself in America since 2004, the year he just missed out on selection for the match in Detroit, and achieved his first PGA Tour victory in June. Now, poised as he is for a return to the world’s top 50, making a debut under Jose Maria Olazabal in Chicago next September is on his radar.
“I just went through a few years where I didn’t really focus on the Ryder Cup as much,” Jacobson said after leaving Lee Westwood four back and Rory McIlroy six adrift. “The kids were so small and I felt America was a big enough challenge, which I still think it is.
“But the kids are slightly older, so I do feel that Ryder Cup would be one of my main goals for next year. I’m starting to get into a lot of the tournaments where I can create points both on the European list and when it comes to world ranking points.
“But first things first. To keep getting better and keep playing well is my goal and if it comes to it where I’m close on the points I’ll probably sneak over and play a few when it comes to that time. I might get my European Tour card back from the few tournaments that I play this year. That gives me more options.”
Jacobson, third in Malaysia last weekend, did not drop a stroke as he took over at the top from American Keegan Bradley, who with a two under 70 slipped back to fourth spot. The two lowest rounds of the day came from the pair in joint second place, however.
South African Oosthuizen had a nine-birdie 63 which brought back memories of his seven-shot victory in The Open at St Andrews last year. Scott, meanwhile, set up the chance of a second successive World Golf Championships win with a 65. He also birdied half the holes on the 7,266-yard Sheshan course, but had bogeys on the seventh and 15th.
England’s Paul Casey matched Jacobson’s 66 to move up from 17th to joint fifth with American Bo Van Pelt on nine under. Hampered first by a foot injury and then by illness, Casey lost his PGA Tour card last month and said: “That’s one of the best rounds I’ve had in a long time. The golf I played is the golf I remember playing.
“I’m trying to keep my right foot down as long as possible. It doesn’t hurt as much and it makes a massive difference — I can suddenly control where the golf ball is going. I felt relaxed on the course as well. I don’t like struggling. It’s not enjoyable.”
Westwood birdied three of the last six holes for a 68 and the last of them edged him ahead of a group which includes English colleagues Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Simon Dyson as well as Graeme McDowell.
McIlroy improved only one position to joint 17th with a 69 that contained seven birdies, but also four bogeys. The 22-year-old US Open three-putted the 12th from no great distance and, going for the green on the 288-yard 16th, he found the hazard on the right and bogeyed again.
“I was just always trying to play catch up,” the 22-year-old US Open champion stated. “I’ll need to do something pretty good over the weekend if I want to try and win this tournament.”
On six under, McDowell is one better than his new stablemate after a second successive 69 but Michael Hoey (two over) and Darren Clarke (five over) are well down the pecking order.
