Parnevik back in contention for Ryder Cup

JESPER Parnevik is back in contention for a fourth Ryder Cup cap after a change of mind over the weekend.

But the Swede's out-in-out-in membership of the European Tour could still cost him a place against the Americans in September's clash.

Parnevik re-joined the circuit three weeks after deciding that he could not meet the 12-event minimum both for Tour membership and Ryder Cup eligibility.

Yet the time he spent out of the Tour since qualifying started last September meant that he was re-instated in the world points list from which five members of the team will come in the 23rd rather than 12th spot.

If he fails to climb into the top five by August 22 he will need one of captain Bernhard Langer's two wild cards. And there could be hot competition for those.

Britain's Luke Donald and Parnevik's compatriots Carl Pettersson and Mathias Gronberg, who also resigned as members earlier this month, have not re-joined. However, they may be digesting Langer's discovery on Tuesday that playing in the qualifying competitions for majors counts towards making the final the 11.

Parnevik is among the entries for the British Open qualifier at Sunningdale on June 28 and, since he is also in the field for the NEC World Championship in August, he clearly feels he can make the 11 now.

Latest positions in the European Ryder Cup tables (to be updated after US Tour event)

World Points List (as at May 29)

1 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 178.61

2 Darren Clarke (Irl) 146.72

3 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 144.73

4 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 141.36

5 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 110.84

6 Lee Westwood (Eng) 86.64

7 Paul Casey (Eng) 85.06

8 Brian Davis (Eng) 82.79

9 Thomas Bjorn (Den) 80.28

10 Ian Poulter (Eng) 79.46

11 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 71.53

12 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 64.62

Order of Merit Points List (as at May 30)

1 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 1,357,294

2 Darren Clarke (Irl) 1,247,182

3 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 1,087,873

4 Lee Westwood (Eng) 915,881

5 Fredrik Jacobson (Swe) 904,729

6 Brian Davis (Eng) 870,270

7 Joakim Haeggman (Swe) 840,569

8 Ian Poulter (Eng) 805,140

9 Paul Casey (Eng) 736,744

10 Raphael Jacquelin (Fra) 723,174

11 David Howell (Eng) 648,625

12 Scott Drummond (Sco) 642,319

Top five players on World Points List on August 23 2004 qualify automatically, plus top five not already qualified on Order of Merit Points List on August 30. Captain Bernhard Langer then adds two wild cards.