Bjorn rattles off birdies for fun to earn himself a Ryder Cup boost

THOMAS BJORN reeled off six birdies in a row at Wentworth yesterday and then added another at the last for good measure to put one hand on the BMW PGA Championship trophy.

The 43-year-old Dane moved smoothly into a five-shot lead over two-time winner Luke Donald with a solid 67.

A 16th European Tour victory would also secure an automatic Ryder Cup place for the current Race to Dubai leader — 12 years after he made the second of two winning appearances in 1997 and 2002.

Bjorn, who has won twice in the past nine months, is currently third on the Ryder Cup points’ list.

Having set a new course record with an opening 62, he is poised to dramatically improve on a previously poor record in the European Tour’s flagship tournament of only one top-10 placing in 16 previous attempts, when he was tied fifth in 1998.

Despite a three-hour delay to the start of play due to torrential rain, close to 20,000 spectators watched the Dane’s majestic performance.

He said: ‘Although I was threeover after five, I drew inspiration from what I did on Thursday and knew I could play the back nine again in 30.

‘I am proud of the way I rallied. It was a remarkable run of holes, starting at the 11th.’

Irishman Shane Lowry is third at nine-under-par after a 73. Rory McIlroy shot a 69 and is tied fourth with Dutchman Joost Luiten, who had a 67.

Meanwhile, one of the big talking points at Wentworth was Tony Jacklin’s slight against Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher.

Former Ryder Cup captain Jacklin, who led Europe to two victories in the 1980s, questioned whether the 39-yearold from Bathgate possesses the mental toughness to become a successful rookie at Gleneagles in September.

Florida-based Jacklin, 69, said: ‘I’m not being unkind but Stephen looks a bit iffy sometimes, as if he’s not sure.

‘He’s a bit tender-minded. You’ve got to have that mental toughness. You’ve got to be able to walk through walls and be as hard as nails. You can be the nicest guy in the world when you’re off the course but, when you’re out there playing tournament golf, you need mental toughness.’

Gallacher, currently 14th on the Ryder Cup points list, responded to the jibe by carding a third-round 68 to edge into the top 25 at three under.

But another member of the Gallacher clan, the player’s uncle Bernard — Jacklin’s assistant on three occasions before also leading Europe to victory at Oak Hill in 1995 — refused to criticise the two-time major winner.

He said: ‘I think Tony was trying to be helpful, to be honest. He knows Stephen has a lot of ability and feels he should be going for it a bit more.’

The younger Gallacher, a three-time European Tour winner after becoming the first player to successfully defend the Dubai Desert Classic crown in February, added: ‘It’s his opinion. When you are commentating, you have to fill the gaps and the comment has come out of left field. I don’t know what he means by being ruthless enough.

‘But he can say what he wants. It’s not going to bother me. I have only met him once and that was about 12 years ago.’

When asked if his nice-guy image means he lacks a ruthless streak, Gallacher responded: ‘I shouldn’t think so.

‘The qualifying process is there to determine the best players for the team and, if you don’t make it, then it’s as simple as that.’

Chris Doak, from Greenock, birdied the last to put the finishing touches to a 69 to share seventh place at six under.

The 36-year-old is poised to better the £43,534 he earned for finishing tied 12th in last year’s Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Marc Warren is on the same mark as Gallacher after a 71 left him on three-under-par, while Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay are level after rounds of 73 and 74 respectively.