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Karlsson two shots clear of chasing pack

29/07/2006

After the third round of the European Players Championship in Hamburg, Sweden's Robert Karlsson is in control at the head of the leaderboard two strokes clear of his nearest rival.

Karlsson scored a six-under 66 and will start tomorrow at 20 under for the championship; a slender cushion over Lee Westwood who leads the chasing pack on 18 below par.

A victory for either player could propel them back into contention for a place in the European team for this September's Ryder Cup.

Both are currently well short of the ranking points total necessary to secure a place in the prestigious team event, but the 600,000 that come with victory would push Karlsson into seventh or Westwood into twelve in the standing.

But the pair were clearly determined to focus only on the job in hand with the final eighteen holes to come.

"I can't let myself start thinking about 'this will happen, or that won't happen.' I can't go there and I won't let myself go there," said Karlsson.

While his English playing partner was similarly single-minded saying: "I'm just looking to win. One will take care of the other."

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel and Welsh veteran Ian Woosnam are the nearest other contenders for the title, a further two shots back on 16 under.

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