Lawrie surges while Woosnam wilts

Whether Wales gets the Ryder Cup in 2005 is not yet clear. What is, is that Ian Woosnam will not be playing in it. He might not even be playing in the biennial blockbuster against the United States at The Belfry after failing to make an impression in the Wales Open.

Woosnam, currently 16th in the Cup rankings, will be on the seniors' tour in eight years' time. After dismissing his caddie Myles Byrne last week, the Welshman is employing his personal physiotherapist Nick Hooper on the bag. Around here that is a wise choice.

Today it will be the survival of the fittest. After the first round was washed out on Thursday, Wentwood Hills, which measures 7,324 yards, is playing to every inch of it. The plan was to reduce the half-way cut to the leading 50 plus ties, instead of the customary 70, so they could play two rounds today but they resorted to plan C and settled for one round and a 54-hole tournament.

Woosnam has cut down on the beer and cigarettes but there has been no discernible improvement in his game. In the second round yesterday, when more rain fell, Woosnam shot 72 to stand at one over par, seven strokes behind the joint leaders Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley and Daren Lee. The Scotsman and the Irishman, who have a chance of making the Ryder Cup team, both scored 71. And Lee, who did not finish until 8.30pm last night came in with a 69. Lawrie's first victory was in the Catalan Open five years ago, a tournament abbreviated to 36 holes and he hasn't won since capturing the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 1999.

"I played fantastic but had a bad putting day again,'' Lawrie said. "I must have had five lipouts today. I'm going back to the putting green and I'll work until it is dark. I'm old enough and ugly enough to know that I can get it round in under par even when I'm putting badly.''

McGinley, 10th in the Cup rankings, said: "It might not be my day, I might not get the putts in. I might get the bad breaks. I might play great. You don't know. This game is so unpredictable.'' Indeed.

Two Welshmen, Mark Pilkington and Jamie Donaldson, who might have an interest in future Ryder Cups appeared on the leader board at five under par. After a 71 Pilkington is within striking distance of the biggest cheque of his young career. The 23-year-old, who turned professional three years ago, has been nurtured by his father John, who normally caddies for his son but not this week. "Jason, a friend from the golf club, is on the bag. We play a lot of golf together and thought we would give it a try. There's a nice relaxed atmosphere between us and it's working all right. Sometimes when things aren't going well you can start feeling sorry for yourself and if you have someone who is not so sympathetic towards you he's more likely to give you a kick up the backside. Having a change of caddie is probably a good thing.''

Donaldson, who turned professional last November, is in the form of his life. Last week the 25-year-old, who was born in Pontypridd but who lives in Macclesfield, claimed his first victory on the European Challenge Tour, winning the BMW Russian Open. Donaldson, who also had a 71 yesterday, came home in 32, finishing with three successive birdies over the most punishing terrain. Today, Celtic Manor will be no place for old lags or even old legs.