Howell's Ryder bid back on track

David Howell, who admitted he was “like a bear with a sore head” after missing the cut in his last two events, got his bid for a Ryder Cup berth firmly back on track in the Scandinavian Masters.

Best of the Irish was Paul McGinley , who finished today tied for eighth at three under (please see Irish players' leaderboard at the end of this story).

A superb run of six top-10 finishes in 15 events has lifted Howell into the automatic qualifying places for the European team to defend the trophy at Oakland Hills in September.

Early exits from both the British Open at Troon and last week’s Irish Open – where fellow contender Raphael Jacquelin finished second – means his position is far from secure however, with just five weeks until the team is finalised.

But a first-round 67, five under par, at Barseback today gave him a share of the lead with Sweden’s Johan Edfors and every chance of achieving his dream scenario of a second European Tour title to seal his place in Bernhard Langer’s team.

Pre-tournament favourite Lee Westwood could only manage a level-par 72, which was matched by three-time former winner Colin Montgomerie thanks to a birdie on the 18th, while Nick Faldo recorded a 71 and Luke Donald a 69.

Howell, who would have equalled the course record but for a bogey on the par-five ninth, his final hole, said: “I always play terrible at the (British) Open so it was no great surprise to miss the cut there but when I missed the cut last week in Ireland I was like a bear with a sore head.

“I never doubted I would make the Ryder Cup team and now I’m in to miss out would be a major major blow. It’s as important as it can be in someone’s career.

“I’m fully aware it’s not signed and sealed but the dream scenario would be a win this week and take next week off as this is the sixth tournament in a row.

“I’m delighted to get off to such a good start. I missed a couple of cuts in a row and didn’t practice too well this morning before we set off I wasn’t sure what was in store.

“But I got off to a fast start and after a terrible tee shot on the 14th, my fifth, chipped in for birdie which was a real momentum change; instead of dropping back to one under I was three under and played lovely from then on apart from the bogey on the last.”

Howell surprisingly split from long-time friend and caddie Jason Hempleman after the Scottish Open – where he finished third – and admitted he wondered if he had done the right thing when he promptly missed his first two cuts in a row since the same tournaments last year.

“It was strange not having him around and to miss two cuts in a row you do start questioning yourself,” added Howell, who has just one European Tour title, the 1999 Dubai Desert Classic, to his name.

“But the last two months I’ve played great and we were still not getting on as well as we used to and I took the decision that Loch Lomond would be our last tournament. It would have been nice to finish with a win for him.”

Howell and Edfors led by one shot from a group of players which included Swedish pair Henrik Stenson and Christopher Hanell and Midlander Steve Webster.

Webster, who was in contention for a long overdue first tour win in the Irish Open last week but faded over the weekend, said: “It’s about trying to take a positive out of last week.

“I shot two 74s over the weekend and didn’t play very well but this is a new week and I’m just looking forward to getting into the action. I was a bit tentative with putts from 15-20ft today and you need to hole them if you want to be up there on Sunday.”

Defending champion Adam Scott recorded a level-par 72 which included just one par, four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on his front nine, while home favourites and Ryder Cup hopefuls Joakim Haeggman and Fredrik Jacobson struggled to rounds of 76 and 75 respectively.

Irish players:

T35 LAWRIE, Peter 18 Par

T8 McGINLEY, Paul 18 -3

T35 McGRANE, Damien 18 Par

T63 MURPHY, Gary IRL 18 +1

T14 McDOWELL, Graeme 18 -2