Edfors caught in ball controversy

A controversial incident on the 18th hole could cost Swede Johan Edfors his European tour career tomorrow.

Joint leader in the Madrid Open and coming to the end of his third round, Edfors – needing to finish first or second to avoid losing his place on the circuit – hooked his drive into the trees.

When it could not be found playing partners Graeme McDowell and Anders Hansen insisted that it must have been picked up by a spectator.

But, despite appeals to the crowd in English and Spanish, referee Andy McFee ruled that, with no television evidence showing the ball at rest and nobody saying they had seen it being lifted, he could not give Edfors the benefit of the doubt.

“I can’t assume it – I need hard evidence,” stated McFee. “It’s not the first time it’s happened and it probably won’t be the last, but nobody has an idea where it finished and so I have to declare it a lost ball.”

The 29-year-old winner of last year’s Challenge Tour returned to the tee, double-bogeyed the hole and with a 69, dropped to joint seventh place.

He will resume tomorrow on 11 under par, two behind England’s Paul Broadhurst and South African Darren Fichardt.

A stunned Edfors said: “It was not a nice way to finish. It’s impossible to lose your ball there and it’s quite expensive. I would have paid a lot for that ball.”

Broadhurst, round in 68, commented: “It’s career-threatening and there ought to be some allowance made for it. It keeps happening every week – somebody picking up a ball and stuffing it in their pocket.

“It’s not on really, especially when you’re leading. I hope he keeps his card, but he is going to be absolutely devastated. Hopefully it’s not going to affect him tomorrow.”

Hansen said: “It’s disgusting.” McDowell added: “I feel pretty sick for him. It’s one of these freak things – somebody has got that ball – but he is good enough to come back and do the business.”

Former Ryder Cup player Broadhurst is searching for his first win in nine years, having twice been to the qualifying school himself in between.

Fichardt had a 67 and the pair of them are a stroke ahead of McDowell, Australian Brett Rumford, Spaniard Ivo Giner and South African Richard Sterne. Giner also needs to finish in the top two to keep his tour card, while Sterne could leap into the top 116 on the Order of Merit with a top-20 finish.

Giner re-ignited his hopes with a joint best-of-the-day 64 and spoke for many when he said: “It’s going to be a difficult day, full of tension.”

There are others who could still knock out England’s Simon Wakefield, in the hot seat of 116th after missing the halfway cut.

England’s Jamie Spence, chairman of the player’s committee, could be safe with a top-27 finish and lies joint 22nd, but confessed after a 69: “It’s horrible and I’d rather be watching my son play rugby tomorrow.”

Australian Wade Ormsby is 17th and has to finish at worst 16th for his card.

At seven under Colin Montgomerie looks too far back to win – he is alongside Spence – but he could, of course, influence who will be alongside him on tour next year.