Double bogey blow for Parnevik

Jesper Parnevik’s hopes of securing a third Scandinavian Masters title suffered a major blow in the early stages of the second round at Kungsangen.

Parnevik carded an opening 67, four under par, to lie just three shots behind surprise leader Graeme McDowell in the £1.3m (€2m) event.

But the eccentric Swede, who lists vitamins, yoga and bridge among his interests, ran up a double-bogey six on the 13th hole – his fourth – to quickly fall further adrift this morning.

Parnevik’s last victory in Europe came in this event in 1998 and he is attempting to match Colin Montgomerie’s hat-trick of titles in the build-up to his third Ryder Cup appearance next month.

The 37-year-old was chosen as one of European captain Sam Torrance’s wild cards, and is likely to team up again with fellow wild card Sergio Garcia.

The pair formed a hugely successful partnership three years ago in Brookline, winning three-and-a-half points out of four in Europe’s narrow and controversial defeat.

Parnevik at least was not the only one finding the going tough on an overcast and windy morning.

Luton’s Ian Poulter, second last year behind Montgomerie and sixth last week in Holland, matched Parnevik’s double-bogey on the 13th after dropping a shot at the 12th.

A solitary birdie on the 17th was sandwiched between two more bogeys and added up to an outward half of 39 which dropped the former rookie of the year back to one over par.

Parnevik could not give his large gallery anything to cheer on the remainder of the back nine, carding five pars after his double bogey to be out in 37.

A bogey on the first then dropped him back to one under, although he did manage to save par on the third after finding a fairway bunker off the tee.

He looked like recording his first birdie of the day on the par-five fifth when he just missed the green in two, but he fluffed his first chip and did well in the end to save par after hitting his fourth shot six feet past.

McDowell was not out until late this afternoon and found his one-shot lead remained in tact. Spain’s Ignacio Garrido and Germany’s Marcel Siem both got within a shot at six under before dropping shots to be in a tie for third.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie was also a late starter and would have been pleased to see the scoring so poor, giving him a chance to make significant progress after his opening 70.