Kjeldsen throws down Ryder Cup gauntlet

By Norman Dabell

ARLANDASTAD, Sweden (Reuters) - Dane Soren Kjeldsen entered the fray for European Ryder Cup places on Friday when he took the Scandinavian Masters second-round early lead by firing a five-under 65.

Kjeldsen, 15th on the Cup table but within striking distance of an automatic place for Valhalla with three events to go, birdied the final hole at the Arlandastad course to edge a stroke in front of Swede Daniel Chopra (64) and Britons Paul Broadhurst and Peter Baker (both 68s).

The leader was delighted to renew his challenge for a Ryder Cup debut after disappointments in the last two majors that kept him down Europe's table.

"I missed the cut in the (British) Open by two and the (U.S.) PGA by one and that hurt me a lot so it's great to be back in with a chance of qualifying again," Kjeldsen told reporters.

"I need to win at least one in the next three weeks but there are so many good players that if you're not 100 percent focused you're not going to win, so I have to really stay in the present this weekend."

The 33-year-old Dane has the added confidence of knowing his Cup bid will end at the Johnnie Walker Championship on August 31 at Gleneagles, where he won the title in 2003.

"That's at the back of my mind as well; if I had to pick a course for it (the Cup bid) to end, Gleneagles would be it. But just having a sniff at a Ryder Cup place is a great feeling."

One of the players Kjeldsen might have to overtake for a place in Nick Faldo's team for the Kentucky match with the U.S. is compatriot Soren Hansen, the player holding 10th place in the Cup table.

Kjeldsen said he hoped both of them would make it but was not surprised Hansen was not playing in Sweden.

"Soren had two weeks in America and I think his plan, to rest this week and play the last two events to qualify, is a good one," added Kjeldsen.

German Martin Kaymer, 11th on the Ryder Cup table, stayed in contention, five shots off the pace, with a 70.

Chris Wood, 20, fifth in the British Open to win the amateur silver medal, moved within three strokes of the lead on his professional debut after carding a 67.

Briton Nick Dougherty, 14th on the Ryder Cup table and sharing the lead overnight, had an afternoon tee-off.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)