Robert Karlsson believes Europe’s obsession with the Ryder Cup can help him win his first tournament for two years in the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Defending champion Soren Hansen avoided the worst that Cologne’s weather could throw at him to move up the leaderboard in the Mercedes-Benz Championship today.

Patchy fog today delayed the start of the second round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

Robert Karlsson gave Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo some welcome good news with a first round 67, five under par, in the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

Soren Hansen admits he cannot wait to make his Ryder Cup debut next week, but first comes the significant distraction of defending his Mercedes-Benz Championship title.

Four members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team will warm up for next week’s battle at Valhalla by contesting the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne, which gets under way tomorrow.

Denmark’s Soren Hansen claimed his second European Tour title in decisive fashion in the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Scotland’s Alastair Forsyth equalled the lowest round of his career to storm into contention for the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Lee Westwood admitted his head was in a spin after coming down to earth with a bump to throw the Mercedes-Benz Championship wide open in Cologne.

Lee Westwood dug yet another old putter out of his packed garage to card a brilliant opening round of 61, 11 under-par, in the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

David Howell’s miserable season continued today in the first round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne.

After Eduardo Romero threatened to beat him to it, Bernhard Langer is aiming to become the oldest winner in European Tour history in his own tournament this week.

Colin Montgomerie will finalise his Britain and Ireland team for the Seve Trophy today – with Paul Casey expected to be handed the captain’s wild card.

Nick Dougherty recovered from his personal form of water torture to share the lead in the £2.2m (€3.2m) Linde German Masters.

A flawless 66 in the Linde German Masters kept Kenneth Ferrie’s hopes of qualifying for the Seve Trophy alive today.

Retief Goosen believes a spell in the army got rid of the fiery temper which once saw him break three clubs in nine holes.

ENGLAND'S Anthony Wall fired a superb 62 to claim a share of the halfway lead with Jose Maria Olazabal as Pádraig Harrington missed the cut in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

England’s Anthony Wall fired a superb 62 to claim a share of the halfway lead with Jose Maria Olazabal at the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Retief Goosen took another step towards his third Order of Merit title in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Retief Goosen quickly moved into the outright lead in the Linde German Masters today – but defending champion Padraig Harrington was battling just to make the cut.

RYDER CUP star Paul Casey provided further proof he has overcome the worst slump in his career by impressing in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Ryder Cup star Paul Casey provided further proof he has overcome the worst slump in his career by impressing in the Linde German Masters in Cologne.

Ian Poulter looks set to be the second Ryder Cup star in the space of a week to be fined by the European Tour for bad behaviour.

EUROPE’S top three players will fight it out for the Linde German Masters this week, and for Colin Montgomerie a victory could be the most significant of his career.

Padraig Harrington went from one ahead to five behind today at the Linde German Masters – but was still smiling. Ryder Cup team-mate Paul McGinley missed the cut after he finished with a 75 for seven over.

Padraig Harrington went from one ahead to five behind today at the Linde German Masters – the final event before the Ryder Cup.

WITH only a week until the Ryder Cup, Darren Clarke spent yesterday resting a sore wrist and urging everybody not to go overboard about Europe’s chances of keeping the trophy in Detroit.

Lee Westwood today won a kilo of gold worth approximately £7,500 (€10,785) for a hole-in-one during his final round in the Linde German Masters.

Ian Poulter tonight blasted the state of the bunkers at Gut Larchenhof after falling two shots off the lead in the Linde German Masters.

Tournament officials today did their best to protect the Gut Larchenhof course from another barrage of low scores in the Linde German Masters.

Arsenal fan Ian Poulter believes he can succeed where the Gunners have failed and be a major success in European competition.

The first ever sub-60 score on the European Tour was again a possibility in the Linde German Masters.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE last night cast fresh doubt on his participation in the Ryder Cup despite a top-10 finish in the £1.8 million Linde German Masters.

Colin Montgomerie has cast fresh doubt upon his participation in the Ryder Cup despite a top 10 finish in the German Masters.

Stephen Leaney held off the challenge of Alex Cejka to win the German Masters in Cologne.

Paul Casey justified Sam Torrance's decision to seriously consider him for a Ryder Cup wild card after a stunning course-record 62 in the Linde German Masters.

Nick Faldo today left himself with plenty to do to qualify for next week’s $5.5m (€5.5m) American Express Championship in the Linde German Masters.

Nick Faldo was today boosting his chances of qualifying for next week’s $5.5m (€5.5m) American Express Championship in the Linde German Masters.

Ryder Cup vice-captain Ian Woosnam showed the European team how it should be done and found plenty able to follow his example in the £1.8m Linde German Masters.

The upturn in fortunes of Europe's Ryder Cup team extended to vice-captain Ian Woosnam in the second round of the Linde German Masters.

Retief Goosen went into today’s second round of the Linde German Masters perfectly placed to step up his bid to retain his status of European number one.

Heavy fog today delayed the start of the £1.8m (€2.86m) Linde German Masters in Cologne.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE is desperate to prove his fitness to his team-mates and Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance in this week’s Linde German Masters.

Former Open champion John Daly stormed into contention for a German double, in the German Masters.