Golf: Lost ball sinks hope of Open win

A vanishing ball, thought to have been stolen by a spectator, may yesterday have cost Swede Johan Edfors the chance of winning the Madrid Open and of keeping his tour card.

Edfors was sharing the third-round lead with South African Darren Fichardt and Britain's Paul Broadhurst at Club de Campo when he launched his drive into trees on the left of the fairway of the final hole.

Despite an intensive search no one came forward with the ball.

The Swede was forced to return to the 18th tee and ended up with a double-bogey for 69, slipping back to seventh equal, two strokes behind joint leaders Fichardt and Broadhurst.

"It was not a nice way to finish," said Edfors.