Torrance makes flying start

Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance charged from 47th place to fourth with a blast from the past in the Compass Group English Open at the Forest of Arden today.

Torrance, two months away from his 49th birthday and determined to become the oldest winner in European tour history, went to the turn in a mere 31 strokes.

The Scot, who slumped to 180th on the Order of Merit last season while preparations for The Belfry occupied his mind, had a hat-trick of birdies from the second and then two more at the seventh and eighth.

At seven under par he was only two behind pacesetters Darren Clarke and Scottish rookie David Drysdale, who still had three hours to wait to tee-off in the their third rounds.

Although the match with the Americans was postponed for 12 months because of September 11, Torrance has felt more able this season to concentrate on the job he has been doing for 31 years now.

He is the longest-serving active player on tour, this being 669th event.

Already with three top-20 finishes this year he seems to be playing better than some of the 12 players who will be performing for him in three months’ time.

Lee Westwood, for instance, has had just one top-20 finish in the last nine months.

The form of Welshman Phillip Price was also a concern until last week’s British Masters at Woburn, where he led with a round to play before being overtaken by winner Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.

Price was lying third again overnight, while Rose was only a stroke further back in his bid for a fifth win of the year.