Putting helps Woosnam's grip on cup place

The Welshman shot a five-under-par 67 for a two-round aggregate of

138, just one stroke behind joint leaders Tony Johnstone and Jose-Maria

Canizares. Costantino Rocca also is on 138 after a 68, with Joakim

Haeggman (69) and Peter Baker, who shot a course-record 65, on 139.

Woosnam, tenth in the Ryder Cup points table, changed to a Gary Player

putting style, with his right knee locked in and his weight on his left

side, and said: ''I haven't putted as well as this for two years.

''It feels terrible, but it works. I didn't drive well, but if I can

get my long game together I feel that before long I'm going to have a

really low round, about a 62.''

Baker, following a first-round 74, made amends with his seven-birdie

65, which he described as his most important round of the year. ''I knew

I could not afford to miss the cut,'' he said, ''because if I can pick

up even a small cheque this week I will be getting nearer to that Ryder

Cup place.''

Baker is eighth in the cup table with just this event and the German

Open next week before the European team is announced, and two good

rounds could see him reach that goal.

Rocca, in seventh spot, says he needs two good finishes to become the

first Italian to make a Ryder Cup team, but he is being pessimistic. A

good finish this week and he will walk into the team.

Haeggman and Anders Forsbrand, who are hoping to become the first

Swedish player to gain selection, had mixed fortunes. Haeggman, twelfth

in the table, is joint seventh after a 69, while Forsbrand, eleventh,

failed to make the cut and needs an great performance in Germany.

Steve Richardson is in sixteenth spot, but is on 139 and, like

Haeggman, will be in the team if he wins this week. But Sandy Lyle,

though making the cut on 142 after a 70, looks likely to need a wild

card if he is to make the side.

Sam Torrance looked safe for a cup place in sixth place, but after his

sleep-walking accident on Tuesday he had to withdraw yesterday and may

not be fit enough to play in Germany next week. Leading qualifiers

(British and Irish unless stated):

137 -- T Johnstone (Zimbabwe) 66, 71; J-M Canizares (Spain) 66, 71.

138 -- I Woosnam 71, 67; C Rocca (Italy) 70, 68; J Rivero (Spain) 69,

69; J Hawkes (S Africa) 70, 68.

139 -- J Haeggman (Sweden) 70, 69; B Marchbank 70, 69; P Baker 74, 65;

S Richardson 67, 72; P Curry 69, 70; P Fowler (Australia) 68, 71.

140 -- H Clark 71, 69; D Gilford 70, 70; G Brand Jr 71, 69; D Clarke

68, 72; V Fernandez (Argentina) 69, 71; J-M Carriles (Spain) 68, 72.

141 -- G Turner (New Zealand) 71, 70; F Nobilo (New Zealand) 69, 72; J

Robson 69, 72; P-U Johansson (Sweden) 68, 73; J Parnevik (Sweden) 72,

69; R Goosen (S Africa) 74, 67; W Westner (S Africa) 71, 70; R Rafferty

73, 68; G Orr 70, 71; G Cali (Italy) 69, 72; D W Basson (S Africa) 70,

71.

142 -- G Evans 72, 70; P Broadhurst 69, 73; P Mitchell 70, 72; C

O'Connor Jr 70, 72; O Karlsson (Sweden) 69, 73; R Allenby (Australia)

72, 70; M James 69, 73; P Fulke (Sweden) 72, 70; M Roe 69, 73; S Lyle

72, 70; F Lindgren (Sweden) 71, 71; S Bowman (USA) 71, 71.

143 -- M Besanceney (France) 71, 72; I Garbutt 67, 76; P Price 73, 70;

P Way 68, 75; M Pinero (Spain) 73, 70; R Willison 71, 72; C Cassells 70,

73; D Hospital (Spain) 75, 68; M Clayton (Australia) 73, 70; S Tinning

(Denmark) 69, 74; S McAllister 73, 70; D Feherty 69, 74.

144 -- P Affleck 71, 73; E Romero (Argentina) 71, 73; B Lane 69, 75; R

Winchester 68, 76; O Sellberg (Sweden) 77, 67; A Bossert (Switzerland)

72, 72; J Berendt (Argentina) 71, 73; P Lawrie 70, 74; S Little 74, 70;

T Levet (France) 71, 73; M Gates 72, 72; G J Brand 73, 71.

Non-qualifiers included:

145 -- A Forsbrand (Sweden) 74, 71.

146 -- M Sunesson (Sweden) 71, 75; A Oldcorn 73, 73.

147 -- J Spence 71, 76; B Barnes 73, 74.

148 -- J Payne 73, 75; R Drummond 73, 75.

149 -- B Longmuir 73, 76.

152 -- T Jacklin 76, 76.

154 -- P Oosterhuis 76, 78.

157 -- A Hunter 76, 81.

Retired -- S Torrance.