Van de Velde looks for Open invitation

Eleven years on from the week which wrote him into golf history at Carnoustie, the 44-year-old began the French Open – just his second event of the year – with a five-under par 66 to be in a share for second place, three behind Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen. If he goes on to win the title on Sunday, Van de Velde, no longer a European Tour card holder, will be back at the Open in two weeks.

With Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter both being passed fit to play following their leg problems – they shot 70 and 72 respectively – Van de Velde, who is ranked No 1,175, will have to beat five of the world's top 11.

Simon Dyson's hopes of staying in an automatic qualifying spot on the Ryder Cup table suffered a big blow when he ran up a quintuple bogey nine.

The 470-yard 18th at Le Golf National is bound to see some great drama if it is awarded the 2018 match, but it sent Dyson tumbling from two over par to seven over in just a few minutes.

"I put three balls in the lake," said the Malton golfer, who currently stands eighth in the cup race with two months to go.

"After going in with my drive I had a flier lie for my third shot, but it came out dead and then the same thing happened with the next one." Hull's Richard Finch fared better, shooting a level-par 71, with Sheffield-born Danny Willett a further shot behind. Harrogate's John Parry matched Dyson's 78.

Yorkshire take a one-point lead into today's final day of North region Women's County Match Week at Carlisle Golf Club, following their fourth successive win, a two-point triumph over Durham.