• Johnnie Walker Championship, Round Three

Colsaerts sweating on captain's pick

ESPN staff
August 25, 2012
Nicolas Colsaerts has a mountain to climb to win an automatic Ryder Cup spot © Getty Images
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It looks increasingly likely that Nicolas Colsaerts will need a captain's pick to make his Ryder Cup bow after the big-hitting Belgian slipped out of contention at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

In need of a top-two finish to automatically qualify for next month's biennial showdown between the United States and Europe, Colsaerts gave himself hope after ending day two in a share of seventh place.

After opening with two birdies on Saturday, Colsaerts had good reason for optimism but, unable to build on his early flourish, he faded and must now hope Jose Maria Olazabal looks favourably on him.

Three bogeys saw the wheels come off and, although he rallied when picking up shots at 14 and 17, a 71 leaves him on six-under, six shots adrift of leader Paul Lawrie and five behind Romain Wattel in second.

World No. 34 Lawrie, who has already booked his place at the Ryder Cup, had a 67 to close on his second European Tour victory of the season. Wattel proved a score was out there as he notched a 63 to crank up the pressure on Lawrie.

Lawrie's fellow Scotsman Stephen Gallacher is third at nine-under following a 65, while David Lynn, another who has an outside chance of a pick from Olazabal, is two-under.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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