Parnevik Ryder Cup warning

Golf

The Swede Jesper Parnevik will not be eligible for an automatic place in Europe's Ryder Cup team in September after declining to rejoin the European Tour.

Ken Schofield, the European Tour's executive director, said yesterday that Parnevik's decision to compete solely on the US Tour restricted his chances of making the European team for the Cup in Valderrama.

Schofield added that the Swedish player's only chance rested with the Ryder Cup captain, Seve Ballesteros, who could issue two wild-card places in the team.

Speaking at the Cannes Open, Schofield said: "The reality now is that the only way Jesper will get into the Ryder Cup team is by way of one of the two wild cards. And, of course, they are at Seve's behest." Parnevik, 32, was runner-up at the Open in 1994 and is presently fourth on the US money-winners' list.

Meanwhile in the second round at Cannes, Paul Eales shot a six-under- par 65, the best of the week, to move to within one shot of the early lead during a sunny but windy second round. The 33-year-old Preston player's round included four birdie twos, while the leader, Santiago Luna, of Spain, produced a fine 66 for a total of 136.

Eales was delighted, for it was not only his best round on the European Tour this year but the first time he had had four twos on his card in such an important event.