Chances are Jesper Parnevik won't play his way into Europe's Ryder Cup team - too few tournaments and too little time to do it. Chances are, he'll be there anyway; most probably as one of captain Mark James's wild cards.

Although a lowly 50th in Europe's Ryder Cup table, the Swede intends going right down to the wire in his quest to play his way in. It's a tall order. But, yesterday, at Loch Lomond, in one of his fleeting appearances back on the European circuit, Parnevik provided more than a hint as to why he should be facing the Americans at Brookline in September when a first-round 64 installed him as Sergio Garcia's chief pursuer.

There are many things that are unconventional about Parnevik. Certainly his fashion habits. He wears drainpipe trousers (on the course, not at the disco), and he has the peak of his cap permanently upturned: a habit that dates back to his younger days when he wanted to get a tan on his face.

He is a magician, like his father, and likes to play bridge. Bridge? "I would say it's the golf of cards. It helps to focus your mind," Parnevik explained, adding: "I've been taking a bit of a rest with my friends in Sweden, playing bridge. We usually ended up screaming at each other after a couple of hours." Oh, and he also likes to eat volcanic dust.

On the course, though, his golf tends to be rather good. Since basing himself on the US Tour, Parnevik has made steady progress up the rankings. In his first year (1994), he finished in 120th in the US money list but rose to 12th last season. And victory in the Greater Greensboro Classic earlier this season gave him his second US Tour win, another indication of his capabilities.

"My goal this season was to qualify myself on to the Ryder Cup team. I have four tournaments to go, and I still have a chance," said Parnevik yesterday. He would need to win possibly two of the four to book his place automatically - and the wild card route seems most likely.

More immediately, Parnevik's sights are set on the Loch Lomond, where he is in pursuit of Garcia, and next week's British Open. The Open owes him one: in 1994 at Turnberry, he held a two-stroke lead at the final hole but bogeyed to lose out by a shot to Nick Price who finished eagle-birdie-par. And, in 1997, he held a five-shot lead over Justin Leonard going into the final day but lost out to the American.

"I'm looking forward to Carnoustie where you are going to hit so many shots that you would never hit anywhere else in the world," said Parnevik. For now, though, the concentration is on chasing Garcia at Loch Lomond - and the Swede has been very impressed with what he has seen so far.

"We were in the match after his today and I watched his rear end a lot picking the ball out of the hole. He is very mentally stable and very focused, and he really knows what he wants," he added.

Yet, the suspicion is that Parnevik will relish the chase over the next few days.