Golf: Purposeful Pavin surges into contention in China

AMERICAN Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin moved within one shot of joint overnight leaders Thongchai Jaidee and Kim Do-hoon at the Volvo China Open today after firing five birdies on a bright second morning at Jinji Lakes International Golf Club.

After an opening bogey-free five-under-par 67 yesterday, the in-form 50-year-old reached the turn of his second round in three-under-par following an impressive hat-trick of birdies, after two bogeys had cancelled out his two earlier birdies.

Pavin finished runner-up at the US PGA Champions Tour event in the Dominican Republic at the end of last month and continued to outshine European counterpart and playing partner Colin Montgomerie, who was able to pick up two shots to edge to two under.

Asian number one Thongchai, playing in the same group as Pavin and Montgomerie, added a solitary gain over the links half of the unique set-up just outside Shanghai to push onto nine under alongside 21-year-old Kim, with the Korean making a move at the third hole of his second round.

Despite a niggling elbow injury which prematurely ended his Masters bid, 40-year-old Thongchai and Kim, who tasted victory on his native tour last week, held a two-shot overnight lead after blazing opening rounds of eight-under-par 64 yesterday in much cooler conditions.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson, who headed the overnight chasing pack alongside early first-round pacesetters Liang Wenchong and Pablo Larrazabal, remained two shots adrift after an early birdie, while Alexander Noren made the most eye-catching move on the second morning, with four birdies in 11 holes pushing the Swede to five-under-par.

Pavin, meanwhile, has declared Tiger Woods a "Ryder Cup man" and expects a fully committed display from the world number one at Celtic Manor in October – should he qualify. The 14-time major champion has been accused of not caring about the event, but on his last appearance in the emphatic record-equalling 18.5-9.5 defeat at the K Club in 2006 Woods was the USA's leading points scorer, contributing three points from a possible five.

In five Ryder Cup appearances Woods has won 10, lost 13 and halved two matches although he has only tasted victory on one occasion, at Brookline in 1999 when he contributed two points out of five.

"They are just rumours he is not into the Ryder Cup. I was with him in 2006 in Ireland and I saw a very determined man who wanted to win and I don't think that has changed at all," said Pavin, who acted as an assistant to captain Tom Lehman at the K Club.

"I am not sure where all the rumours started in the first place, but I can only go from what I have seen live and in colour in Ireland. He didn't play as well as he wanted to play, but hanging around in the team room I saw one man that wanted to win the Ryder Cup."

Woods missed the victory at Valhalla in 2008 after undergoing knee surgery following his dramatic US Open win at Torrey Pines, and turned down an offer from skipper Paul Azinger to act as a vice-captain. "He is a Ryder Cup guy and he loves it, I have watched it and I have seen it," added Pavin, who has won two Ryder Cup's in three appearances as a player, winning eight out of 13 matches.

"I can tell by watching players in any venue how into it they are and I could see by looking into his eyes and by his body language that he wanted to win and wanted to perform well."

Looking ahead to Celtic Manor in October, Pavin insists he is unconcerned by Woods' inactivity this year after witnessing his return from a five-month self-imposed exile with a fourth-placed finish at the Masters last week.

After initially stating he would take another break, Woods has since confirmed appearances at the Quail Hollow Championship later this month and at June's US Open at Pebble Beach after his finish at Augusta moved him up to seventh place on the USA Ryder Cup points table.

"If Tiger is playing well enough I would give him a captain's pick if he didn't qualify, but he would have to be playing well enough," said Pavin. "If he doesn't play at all leading up to the Ryder Cup it is going to be pretty tricky to pick him as I don't know how he would be playing. It would be hard not to pick him at any point, but he needs to play well. Just because he is Tiger doesn't mean he has a free pass onto the team."