Sweden’s Niclas Fasth holds a one stroke lead going into the last 36 holes of the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe but will have to defend it against a formidable chasing pack that includes US Open Champion Michael Campbell during a marathon final day at Gut Kaden.
Fasth charged home in 31 strokes, picking up five birdies in his last seven holes, to post a six under par 66 to lead on ten under par 134. His closest challenger is Welshman Bradley Dredge after a three under par 69 took him to nine under while Campbell lies a further shot back alongside Ireland’s Peter Lawrie.
Big hitting John Daly also made a charge, shooting a flawless 64, eight under par, to lie in the group on six under par 138 and only four shots off the pace with 36 holes to go.
Fasth was at the top of the European game in 2002 when he played a significant role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at The De Vere Belfry but lost his way slightly over the next two years. This year he has come out a stronger player having rebuilt his swing and teamed up with Padraig Harrington’s former caddie Dave McNielly.
Victory in the Holden New Zealand Open in February followed and he is once again challenging for the title.
“I played fantastic on the front nine and just didn’t get the score going,” said Fasth. “I hit it really close on the tenth and 11th and missed those and I could easily have lost it there but I stuck in because I was playing so well. Then it was a really nice finish.”
Faced with the prospect of 36 holes on the final day, McNielly could be an asset having been on Harrington’s bag when the Irishman won in 2003 and finished second last year.
“Dave has a lot of experience and has helped me out a lot and kept pushing me hard,” added Fasth. “It was good luck for me when he became available as he is a very skilled caddie and very experienced.”
When the first round finally got underway on Friday after the first day was lost due to rain, Bradley Dredge may well have been thinking he would be on his way home sooner rather than later when he lost his opening tee shot. But he bounced back from that first double bogey to fire an opening 66 and tagged on a 69 in the second round to lie just one shy of Fasth.
“It was a steady round, a lot of fairways and greens,” said the Welshman. “I didn’t have as many chances as the previous day but I am pleased with the round.”
Regarding the opening drive, he added: “I’ve been playing for 20 years and you get used to hitting bad shots. They happen all the time and you have the mental strength to get on with the next shot. But I thought it could be an early exit from this one.”
The past six weeks have been pretty hectic for Michael Campbell following his first Major Championship triumph in the US Open and then performing with distinction at St Andrews last week. Understandably things were starting to catch up with him a little but he remains firmly in the hunt after a 71.
Peter Lawrie is cramming in as many tournaments as possible before his wife, Philippa, gives birth to their first child in late September and carded a fine seven under par 65 in his bid to win his first European Tour title. At eight under par the 2003 Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year is well within striking distance.
Henrik Stenson, joint leader after the first round is a further shot adrift after a level par 72, his round spoilt somewhat by a double bogey five on the 16th. His seven under par total was matched by Mark Roe, who chipped in on the last for a 69.
A host of players lie on six under par, including two of the crowd favourites – local hero Marcel Siem and big John Daly. Daly’s 64 was the lowest round of the week and was littered with gimme putts as he peppered the flag throughout the day.
For a man of Daly’s size, the thought of 36 holes on Sunday might not be much fun but Daly says he is looking forward to it. “I’ll put four or five extra packs of cigarettes in my bag and I’ll be ready to go,” quipped the “Wild Thing”.
Having lost a full day’s play on Thursday when torrential rain flooded the course, the field was cut to the top 50 professionals and ties after 36 holes. Those 54 players who made the cut will play 36 holes on Sunday, playing in three balls with a two tee start and no re-draw after the third round.
