Tunnicliff chases landmark

The first ever sub-60 score on the European Tour was again a possibility in the Linde German Masters.

Fredrik Jacobson came within a shot of the landmark during his first round in Cologne, the 28-year-old failing to find the birdie he needed on the last to break the magical 60 barrier.

And just 24 hours later the record was again under threat from Miles Tunnicliff.

The Marbella-based Englishman went one better than Jacobson when he raced to the turn in 29 with seven birdies and two pars, and the 35-year-old then added further birdies at the 11th and 13th.

That put him nine under par for the day and requiring four birdies from the last five holes to record an elusive 59, and also took him 14 under for the tournament and two shots ahead of Jacobson and Carlos Rodiles.

Rodiles had two holes to play after picking up six birdies before a bogey on the 16th.

Meanwhile Nick Faldo was battling to secure his first Ryder Cup qualifying points at Gut Larchenhof.

The six-time major winner was quickly into red figures, birdies at the 12th and 13th, where he came up just short of the green in two on the par five, taking him to two under par for the tournament.

A bogey on the next dropped him back to one under but four birdies in six holes from the 18th put him in a good position at four under.