Qatar exploits aid Broadhurst bid

Paul Broadhurst’s hopes of winning a second Ryder Cup cap 15 years after his first have been boosted by his runner-up finish in the Qatar Masters.

The 40-year-old Englishman, whose European tour career hung in the balance when he had to return to the qualifying school in 2001 and 2002, is up from 84th to 62nd in the world rankings.

If he is still in the top 64 in two weeks’ time Broadhurst will qualify for the Accenture world match play championship in California on February 22-26 – an event that counts towards the Ryder Cup table.

Winner of both his games when he played for Europe at Kiawah Island in 1991, he has improved to ninth in the race for the 10 automatic spots in Ian Woosnam’s team for the K Club near Dublin in September.

Uncapped Swede Henrik Stenson, who won in Qatar and now heads the Ryder Cup standings, has reached the world’s top 20 for the first time in his career, moving up from 28th to 19th.