Ryder Cup hope for Parnevik

Jesper Parnevik is back in contention for a fourth Ryder Cup cap after a change of mind this 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.

Parnevik has 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 has spent out of membership since qualifying started last September means he was re-instated in the world points list – from which five members of the team will come – in 23rd place instead of 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, but may be digesting Langer’s discovery on Tuesday that playing in the qualifying competitions for majors counts towards the 11.

Parnevik is among the entries for the Open qualifier at Sunningdale on June 28 and, since he is also in the field for the NEC World Championship in August as a member of the last Ryder Cup team, he clearly feels he can make the 11 now.