None looked in better form than Thomas Levet, who took best advantage of a sunny afternoon and light winds yesterday to shoot a scintillating nine-under-par 63. After three rounds of the BMW International Open in Munich, he shares the lead at 15-under-par with Miguel Angel Jimenez, another Ryder Cup certainty. They lead by two strokes from Retief Goosen, the US Open champion, and Markus Brier of Austria.
“Let’s not beat about the bush, it is going right down to the wire,” said Paul McGinley earlier in the week, and it looks like it will, with McGinley and Fredrik Jacobson likely to be the main protagonists. McGinley has been mindful of what befell Robert Karlsson in similar circumstances at the same tournament in 1999. Like McGinley this time, Karlsson was in 10th position in the standings at the start of the tournament, and played well to finish ninth. But he lost his automatic place in the team when Padraig Harrington holed a crucial putt on the 18th to come second and win the last place. Karlsson finished 11th in the standings and was ignored by Mark James, Europe’s captain, who picked Jesper Parnevik and Andrew Coltart.
Jacobson, who is three strokes behind the leaders, could yet deny either McGinley, Poulter or Howell their place. But he will have to continue to perform like a magician around the greens. For three days, his ability to get up and down from awkward spots has been uncanny. He missed six out of 14 fairways on Thursday and shot one under par; he missed five fairways on Friday and shot seven under; and yesterday he continued in similar vein. His best trick was at the par-five sixth, where he blocked his tee shot to the right, saw his second rebound off a tree, played a long iron to the edge of the green and holed a 50-foot putt for a birdie.
McGinley, who had a fine 67, made sure he wasn’t looking behind himself at the chasers -- “I’ve played this game long enough to know that ain’t going to work” -- and set his sights on the two players just ahead of him, Poulter and Howell. “There was a lot of pressure today, and there will be a hell of a lot tomorrow,” McGinley said. “I’m nervous about it now, just thinking about it. I’m under the cosh. I really want to be in the team and it’s very important for me to finish in the top 10.”
Levet, the joint leader, offered his own testimonial for McGinley, who he would love to partner. “If our 10th man is Paul McGinley, we’ll have a strong team,” he said. “He played a great shot to the 16th green with a three-wood and almost made the eagle. That shows he’s ready for it.”
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So is Levet, who clearly has the right stuff for the Ryder Cup. He said after his round that he liked pressure, “the more pressure the better,” and he will find plenty at Oakland Hills.
Bernhard Langer, Europe’s team captain, who arrived yesterday, was also pleased to note the form of Lee Westwood, whose scores have improved round by round. Westwood moved firmly into contention with a 66, while those hoping to catch Langer’s eye and benefit from his selection were also in the groove. Colin Montgomerie and Luke Donald, most notably, finished with rounds of 67 and 68 respectively.
Montgomerie has continued to suffer mood swings, but has surrounded himself with familiar faces. His father has done everything but hold his son’s hand during the tournament; he followed his practice rounds and watched just about every shot he hit on the range. Montgomery has also reunited with his former caddie, Alastair McLean. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision but for the moment Montgomerie feels much more comfortable. “I’m delighted he’s back on the bag, ” Montgomerie said. “It gives me confidence.” Unfortunately it has done little to correct Montgomerie’s habit of looking for disturbance in the gallery, often before it has occurred. Lack of focus has damaged him in the past and this week he has often looked at the galleries, as if searching for a face in the crowd, possibly his father’s, or perhaps Langer’s. His rehabilitation continues, but is not complete.
Yesterday, Montgomerie was playing with John Daly and Anders Hansen. He opened with four solid pars and played a superb wedge to four feet at the fifth for his first birdie. His mood brightened and he chatted with Daly on the sixth tee before launching a fine drive down the centre of the fairway. This was the benign, consistent Montgomerie, but on the next hole his drive was pulled a long way left and led to a desperate search by Montgomerie and McLean, assisted by the public. The ball was eventually found and Montgomerie escaped with a par. Two off the lead, he believes he can win.
Donald, who is expected to be picked by Langer, played in the company of Ian Poulter, also likely to make it, and Joakim Haeggman, who has much to do. Donald admitted the atmosphere had been tense. “I shot four under, but it could have been eight or nine under,” he said. “If I shoot a really low one tomorrow I might even win.”
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McGinley’s 67 was matched by Howell, who looks likely to clinch his place today. “I was remarkably relaxed,” Howell said. “I was not thinking about it at all. I get nervous, but you never know when it’s going to come on.” It would be surprising if it didn’t come on today, when Jacobson makes a final effort to get an automatic place and Howell, Poulter and McGinley fight to ward him off and save their own.
Ryder Cup special, today, Sky Sports 2, 5.30pm