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Swede Karlsson clinches Euro players title

30/07/2006

Sweden's Robert Karlsson edged out Lee Westwood to win the 26th annual European Players' Championship by four shots.

The 36-year-old carded a final round of 67, despite a double bogey on the 18th hole, to finish on 25-under for the tournament.

Westwood, a two time winner of the event, finished in joint second place on 21 under along with 21-year-old South African Charl Schwartzel.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell finished tied third with Italy's Emanuele Canonica, Retief Goosen, and Argentine Andres Romero on 20 under.

Sergio Garcia was two shots further back on 18 under, two shots ahead of veteran Ian Woosnam.

But Karlsson maintained his overnight lead to add the title in Hamburg to his victory at the Welsh Open in June, pocketing a cheque for £409,469.

The Swede said afterwards he was delighted with his performance over the four days on the 72 par course.

"It's never easy but my focus this week was fantastic," he said.

"I was happy with how I felt on the course. It's definitely the best [I've been] mentally. I felt very stable out there, even when Lee got a bit closer I kept doing my thing."

The third round yesterday was overshadowed by a bizarre incident involving Karlsson's marker, which went missing on the 11th green after the players had left the course due to thunder and lightning.

Karlsson had to estimate where his marker was on the green but was not given a one shot penalty.

The victory puts him in seventh spot in the Ryder Cup standings, one of the automatic qualification positions, as well as improving his Order of Merit ranking.

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