Hedblom hoping to end barren spell

Peter Hedblom heard the crack and knew what it meant – a broken leg and the end for the time being of his European tour career.

But that was three and a half years ago. Today the 35-year-old Swede took a three-stroke lead over Ryder Cup Irishman Paul McGinley into the third round of the BMW Championship at Wentworth.

And that will come as a surprise to many of the spectators making their way to the famous West Course.

When most left yesterday, McGinley was the man out in front in the race for the first prize of nearly £460,000 (€667,000) following a superb 64, only one outside the course record.

But at 7.45pm Hedblom, 240th in the world rankings and therefore not given one of the prime tee-off times to fit in with television coverage, completed his 65, seven birdies in the last 11 holes taking him out of the pack and into pole position on 11 under par.

It gives him a chance for his first tour win since the Moroccan Open in 1996 - and since the 2001 ice hockey accident which put him out of the game for the best part of a year.

“I’m from a big ice hockey town and I’ve played since I was six,” he said. “Every year we play golfers against golfers and I got a big hit from one of the biggest guys.

“I knew I’d broken my right leg down on my ankle, but I also knew broken legs heal. I’d just got my tour card back, but after two operations I was given a medical exemption for the following season and then my golf started to get back in shape.

“I still play. You normally don’t break a leg that easy in ice hockey, but we also play a game called hockey-bockey where you don’t have much contact.”

This is the first time he has led an event after 36 holes since his Morocco victory, but he was in two play-offs on his return in 2003, losing to Kenneth Ferrie in the Spanish Open and Michael Campbell in the Irish Open.

McGinley has gone nearly four years himself since his last win in the Wales Open, but since then he has featured in two Ryder Cup thrillers, holing the winning putt at The Belfry and going through last September’s match unbeaten.

“I think my career’s been great,” he said. “I’ve had two great Ryder Cup experiences in extreme pressure, but my win ratio is not good enough. I’m aware of that.”

The former Gaelic footballer has played in 348 European tour events stretching back 16 years and has only three titles to his name. None of them against the cream of the circuit.

Now he can change that. Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and 10 of his Ryder Cup teammates are in this week’s line-up.

What is pleasing McGinley in the European tour’s flagship week is not only how he is playing so far, but how the course is set up.

“If we’re going to compete in major championships we want to be playing courses that are similar and Wentworth certainly is,” he said.

“Most of the tournaments we play are not like it and I think the future of golf should be set up more along really getting the greens firm and tucking the pins in.

“Course management, strategy, good shot-making. I think that should be brought back in as opposed to rewarding brute power.”

McGinley was appalled when he heard that for the Open at St Andrews this year the Home of Golf has been lengthened by 164 yards.

“Putting 40 yards on the 14th just rewards the big-hitters. The bunkers on the left are now in play for 80% of the field, but for Tiger they’re still not.” Woods did not go in sand once when he won by eight in 2000.

Els and Colin Montgomerie had some different comments to make after reaching halfway two under and level par.

Montgomerie, probably needing a top-10 finish to earn an exemption into next month’s US Open, survived the cut with nothing to spare and commented: “The 17th green is burnt. I’ve never seen it like it and it desperately needs water.

“Let’s have firm, fast courses, but they should be hosing the 17th now.”

Els said: “Some of the holes are on the edge and the 17th is getting out of hand. It’s starting to make brown rings and they’ve got to be careful.”

Favourite for the title at the start of the week, the world number three added after his 69: “I’ve got an outside chance. I lost the plot for a while, but also played really good at times and am not too far away.”

It has been revealed that Els is ending his arrangement with the giant International Management Group to join former European tour player Andrew Chandler’s International Sports Management.

Ryder Cup quartet Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, McGinley and David Howell will become stablemates, but Els said: “I don’t want to comment about it too much, but a change is always good.”

In March IMG angered promoters on the US Tour by detailing the payments required to attract top players to special events and it is understood it did not go down too well with Els either.