Players provide tonic for Sam

EUROPEAN captain Sam Torrance received a timely form and fitness boost ahead of next month’s Ryder Cup, despite making an early exit from the Linde German Masters.

Torrance pulled out before the start of play in Cologne with a back injury that also forced him to withdraw from the BMW International Open two weeks ago in Munich.

But the 49-year-old Scot could take some comfort from the performance of his team members chasing the £315,000 first prize, eight of the nine competing this week finishing under par and three shaking off injury worries.