Andalucia Open:Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen warmed up for his Masters debut at Augusta - one he earned after an amazing last-day drama in December - with a sizzling 62 at the €1million Andalucia Open in Seville today.
The 10-under-par round broke the Real course record by one and shaved a stroke off his lowest ever score on the European Tour, and it also took him from five behind into a one-shot lead over Scot David Drysdale.
Kjeldsen, winner of the Volvo Masters in November, carded seven birdies in a row, only one short of the Tour record, and then three holes later made a 45-foot eagle putt on the long 16th to reach 14 under par.
He was six clear at that point, but Drysdale played the last eight in six under, also making eagle at 16 and sinking birdie putts of four and 30 feet on the final two greens.
As for Colin Montgomerie, his 500th Tour event as a professional was turning into one to forget rather than remember.
Only one behind after an opening 67, Europe’s new Ryder Cup captain fell back to 35th place, 12 adrift, with a 75.
Kjeldsen qualified for Augusta by finishing last year 50th on the world rankings by one hundredth of a point.
“I was told I was in by a guy who writes a website in Denmark, then he called again to say that he had it wrong and if Richard Sterne won in South Africa I would be 51st,” Kjeldsen explained.
“I watched him make tons of birdies on the back nine, then win in a play-off, so went on a 10-mile run on the beach screaming and shouting.
“I came back, settled down, went to bed and then the same guy rang at midnight to say he had it wrong and I was in.
“I was completely drained, but it’s a dream to play there and I already have the invitation framed.”
His confidence has rarely been higher. Two weeks ago he finished seventh in the WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
Drysdale, 34, is seeking his first Tour win and has made 10 trips to the qualifying school, but he was second in the 2006 Russian Open and third at the Joburg Open in January.
“I’m absolutely bursting for the toilet,” he said after signing for a 66 that left fellow Scot Alastair Forsyth and Spain’s Carlo Del Moral three shots further back in joint third.
Earlier, Swede Peter Hanson managed only a 74 and knew instantly what it meant - no Masters debut for him.
Needing a top-three finish to have a chance of making the world’s top 50 just in time for Augusta, Hanson was down in 58th spot on two over par with a day to go and said: “Over, game over. That’s it.
“This is such a big disappointment. Everybody knew why I came here this week.
“I’ve been so close the past two years. I ended 2007 54th in the rankings and was 55th at the end of last year.
“If Geoff Ogilvy had not birdied the last hole of the HSBC Champions in November (to tie for third with him) that might have done it for me.
“And if I’d not lost to Paul Casey in the third round of the Match Play a month ago that might have done it.
“But this week every bit of my game has been just a little bit off.”
Dane Anders Hansen, who missed the cut at Augusta last year, is 29th as he also tries for the top-three finish he requires to earn a return trip.
