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Ryder Cup ace Karlsson smashes course record in Italy

09/05/2008

Ryder Cup star Robert Karlsson carded a course record of 61 to lead at the halfway stage of the Italian Open.

The Swede lies on 15-under, two strokes ahead of England's Mark Foster (66) and South African Hennie Otto (66) at Castello di Tolcinasco.

Karlsson came agonisingly close to becoming the first player on the European Tour to go round in 59

The 38-year-old started with three successive birdies, he then eagled the 15th and first with two long-range putts.

Karlsson then birdied four of the next six holes to lie on ten-under. He finished off his second round with a ten-foot birdie putt, to record the third lowest score in Tour history over 36 holes.

The Swede said he was thinking of the record books in making a 59.

"It did cross my mind, but I've had some problems on eight in the past - I was pretty happy with a three there," Karlsson said.

Karlsson added he was happy to play in Italy instead of the lucrative Players' Championship at Sawgrass.

"There are many plusses to coming here. It cuts down on the travelling and I get to see the kids on Monday too before going to Ireland."

Elsewhere, Nick Dougherty lost a ball and needed six on the par-four sixth hole, in his round of 66 to lie on seven under.

American John Daly survived the cut after carding 73 to lie on four-under.