Torrance gets Ryder boost

EUROPEAN captain Sam Torrance received a timely double boost ahead of next month’s Ryder Cup before making an early exit from the BMW International Open.

Torrance completed just nine holes of his first round before pulling out with a back injury, but not before seeing Bernhard Langer and Ian Poulter at the top of the leaderboard.

Langer carded an eight under par 64 while Poulter, on standby to play at The Belfry if any of the 10 automatic qualifiers withdraws, was one shot behind alongside fellow Englishmen Robert Coles and Richard Bland.

Poulter missed the cut in this event last year to end his chances of qualifying automatically for the team to face America at The Belfry at the end of September.

But the 26-year-old’s 11th place in the points table earned him the consolation of being first reserve, and while several of Torrance’s team struggle with injuries and poor form, Poulter at least seems to be peaking at the right time.

Colin Montgomerie’s back injury appears to offer Poulter the best chance of getting into the team, the former European number one missing this week’s event to rest the injury which has plagued him for all of this season.

Padraig Harrington has also been struggling with neck and ankle injuries while the likes of Lee Westwood, Philip Price and Paul McGinley have been out of form for much of the season.

One almost certain Ryder Cup casualty is Langer’s long-term caddie Pete Coleman, who broke his shoulder after falling off a ladder at his home earlier this month.

Langer, who will make his 10th cup appearance at The Belfry, has won every European Tour event held on German soil at least once apart from this one and looked determined to set the record straight in Munich as he rattled in seven birdies in a row from the 18th. Another on the seventh would have equalled the tour record but his putt from 20 feet was off target.

Bland looked like overhauling Langer when he covered the back nine in just 30 shots, but he could only pick up one more birdie coming home to match Poulter’s 65.

Defending champion John Daly had eight birdies but four bogeys and a double-bogey in an adventurous 70, a score matched by Harrington, the man he beat by a shot last year, and playing partner Rose.

Seve Ballesteros, making his first appearance since being disqualified from the Irish Open two months ago for signing for an incorrect score, birdied the last two holes for a 72.

Three of the most in-form players in the world at the moment, Rich Beem, Craig Parry and Adam Scott, have confirmed their participation at the World Golf Championships - American Express Championship, at Mount Juliet from September 19 - 22.

Recently crowned USPGA Champion Beem continued his fine run last week with a top 10 finish at the WGC NEC Invitational at Sahalee. Parry ended a 15-year wait for a victory in the United States when he took the $1m first prize. It was the Australian’s first victory in three years.

Meanwhile, on The European Tour, Scott strolled to a 10-stroke triumph at the Diageo Scottish PGA Championships at Gleneagles to underline his return to form.

ALL four provinces are in with a chance of taking the Boys Interprovincial crown following the second day’s action at Headfort yesterday.

Holders Connacht recovered from their opening day defeat to see off Munster 5-4 while Ulster won the last three singles to beat Leinster 6-3.

The results leave all four provinces with a victory apiece and a chance of overall victory today, although Ulster have a slight advantage having won more matches.