Woosnam puts faith in garage find

A search in his garage paid huge dividends for Ian Woosnam as he rediscovered form in the French Open at Le Golf National near Paris.

Thinking ahead to next Monday's British Open qualifying at Sunningdale, Woosnam unearthed a one-iron he reckoned was 21 years-old and decided it might have its uses this week. How right he was.

On a course where the rough is thicker and higher than at last week's US Open - Mark Roe reckons that the 5ft 4½ in Woosnam could himself be lost in it - the 46-year-old stayed out of trouble to shoot a four under par 67.

It put him only one behind South African Darren Fichardt and Woosnam said of the one-iron: "The loft on it has been bent all sorts of ways and it's had a few shafts in it, but it's still in good condition and it's perfect for here."

The former world number one, now only 278th in the rankings and 109th on this season's European Order of Merit, has not won since the 2001 World Match Play at Wentworth and his last strokeplay success was seven years ago.

His revival was not all down to the one-iron, though. Woosnam also changed his swing, went with a new caddie and switched back to a short putter, not without some trepidation.

"I missed a few early on and I still feel nervous with it. Every time I got hold of it I had to have a cigarette."

Only one over at the turn, no mean feat in itself in the strong wind, the 1991 Masters champion covered the longer front nine in a superb 31 with birdies at the first, third, fifth, seventh and eighth.

But Fichardt, whose two European tour wins have come in faraway Brazil and Qatar, also came home in 31 to pinch the lead when conditions eased a little during the afternoon.

The 29-year-old failed to qualify for last week's US Open and instead went with his wife to Disney World and Universal Studios in Florida.

"I feel very refreshed we've not had a holiday like that in a while and we've always wanted to go there."

Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer, back after eight weeks out with a wrist injury, double-bogeyed the ninth and 17th in his 77 and Justin Rose double-bogeyed the ninth and 18th for a 75.

Colin Montgomerie also went into the water at the last for a 74, while in the race for Ryder Cup places it was a good day for 10th-placed Ian Poulter, a poor one for ninth-placed Brian Davis and an awful one for sixth-placed Paul Casey. They were one under, four over and six over respectively.

lLuke Donald is eligible for the Ryder Cup again after deciding to rejoin the European Tour and committing himself to 11 events this season.

The 26-year-old was dropped off the points list six weeks ago, but like Jesper Parnevik has had a change of mind and so could earn selection either off the points table or as one of captain Bernhard Langer's two wild cards.

Donald is reinstated in 21st place on the world ranking points table from which the first five players on August 22 earn spots.