It's A Win Orr Bust For Gary

Aug 17 2008 By Callum Robb

COMEBACK Scot Gary Orr reckons he just needs a slice of luck to clinch his first European Tour victory in eight years at the SAS Masters in Sweden today.

The 41-year-old was uncertain of his future after struggling with back problems last year.

But he lies just two shots behind leader Peter Hanson in Stockholm and is desperate to add to his two previous Tour victories - at the Portuguese Open and British Masters in 2000.

Orr shot a 67 yesterday - including a hat-trick of birdies at the third, fourth and fifth - and admitted: "I've not been playing too badly but I've just not been putting it altogether."

And he revealed the secret to the improvement in his game was some early morning short-game sessions.

He said: "I worked hard on my short game while on holiday in the south of France last year, getting up early before it got too hot."

Hanson, who added a 68 to his two opening 66s, has won only one of 174 European Tour events in his career.

But at 24th in the Ryder Cup standings the Swede can't be ruled out of the equation for Nick Faldo's team.

The 30-year-old - whose only victory was the 2005 Spanish Open - said: "If I win I'll change my mind about taking next week off. I want to give myself every chance."

Another Ryder Cup hopeful, Nick Dougherty, shared the halfway pace with Hanson but a level-par 70 dropped the Englishman into a five-way share for second with Orr, Dane Soren Kjeldsen and two more Swedes - Daniel Chopra and Pelle Edberg.

Following the death of his mother after a heart attack in April, Dougherty has not had a top-50 finish in his last seven starts.

And the 26-year-old Liverpudlian said: "It's good to be in contention going into the final round."

Chris Wood - making his professional debut four weeks after his fifth place finish in The Open at Royal Birkdale - holed his pitch to the first for an eagle two. And when he turned in five-under 29, he was only one off the lead.

But the back nine brought a double-bogey six on the 12th. And a closing bogey gave him a 68 - leaving him joint ninth on five under, five behind Hanson.