Davies draws first blood

Welsh rookie Rhys Davies drew first blood against Ryder Cup ace Luke Donald in their Madrid Masters third round head-to-head today.

Davies, 25 yesterday and with a win already in this his first full season on the European Tour, birdied the short second to draw level with Donald on 12 under par at Real Socieded.

Both had saved par from different bunkers on the first and both then birdied the long third, Davies almost chipping in for eagle.

They were four clear of a chasing back led by Davies’s fellow countryman Jamie Donaldson and also Ryder Cup hopeful Simon Dyson, who packed an eagle, three birdies and a bogey into his first eight holes to charge from joint 14th into a tie for third.

A further nine players were only one shot further back, including Graeme McDowell, Spanish Open champion Alvaro Quiros, English pair Nick Dougherty and Graeme Storm and Scot Stephen Gallacher.

A week after finishing fourth in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard, fired a 65 to set the early clubhouse target at eight under along with Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti.

Donald was runner-up last Sunday, losing by one to Simon Khan after running up a double bogey seven at the last-but-one hole, and after being six clear at one point yesterday – before Davies had started his round to be fair – was extra keen to grab his first win for four years.