The last three automatic places in Europe's Ryder Cup team were still in the melting pot on Friday as Frenchman Gregory Havret kept his lead after the Johnnie Walker Championship second round. While Dane Soren Hansen boosted his prospects of a Cup debut against the United States in Kentucky next month, the dream is over for young German Martin Kaymer who missed the cut by a stroke in the final points-counting event. Hansen overcame a painful wrist to shoot a two-under-par 71 for a four-under 142 total. He is in joint fifth place behind Havret who had his overnight two-stroke advantage trimmed to one after carding a 71 for 139. Robert Rock birdied the last for a 70 and 140, one ahead of fellow Britons Bradley Dredge (70) and Peter Whiteford (68). Hansen is ninth in the Ryder Cup points table, with the top-10 on Sunday night making up Nick Faldo's team together with the captain's two wildcard selections. The 34-year-old Dane was troubled by a long-term wrist problem which required painkillers but recovered well to collect two birdies in his last three holes. Briton Justin Rose, eighth in the table, also helped his Cup cause with a 71 for 144. While Britain's Oliver Wilson, 10th in the Cup points, rallied from a poor front nine to narrowly make the cut, Kaymer missed out after a 73 that contained two missed four-foot putts in the last two holes. Colin Montgomerie returned a 70 for 144 while Daren Clarke shot a 73 for 145. Singh takes early control In Massachusetts, Vijay Singh, helped by a sizzling run of five birdies in six holes from the second, charged into an early one-stroke lead in the opening round of the Deutsche Bank Championship on Friday. Bidding for his third PGA Tour title in five starts, the smooth-swinging Fijian delivered a master-class in approach play on his way to a sparkling seven-under-par 64 at the TPC Boston. FedExCup points leader Singh made the most of calm, receptive conditions to take control of the second event in the lucrative playoff series which wraps up the Tour's regular season. “I'm playing well,” the 45-year-old told reporters after a round featuring eight birdies, a lone bogey and a total of 28 putts. American Ben Curtis was among those taking full advantage, holing a 20-foot eagle putt at the par-five 18th, his ninth, en route to a 65. That put him level with left-handed compatriot Eric Axley, one shot better than a group of six players including South African Ernie Els. Spaniard Sergio Garcia opened with a 67 while British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland battled to a 75, the worst score among the early starters.
