Karlsson refuses to budge

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2002 Omega European Masters | Round Three | 08 Sep 2002

Sweden’s Robert Karlssson has had the demanding task of leading the Omega European Masters from his opening round of 65, but the manner in which he has gone about his task suggests that he is very much in line to become the third consecutive player to lead this event from go to whoa.

Eduardo Romero had done it in his ten shot win in 2000 and last year, another Argentinian, Ricardo Gonzalez did the same in his maiden European Tour win.

Karlsson has had just the two bogies in his fifty four holes and leads by two from Emanuele Canonica, the diminutive but incredibly powerful Italian, and by three from Barry Lane, Paul Lawrie and South African Trevor Immelman, whose first tour win must surely be close at hand.

Stephen Leany heads the down under brigade at 7 under in 10th place but seven back of Karlsson, Michael Campbell is at 6 under, Jarrod Moseley 4 under, Stephen Scahill even par, Scott Gardiner 1 over and Brett Rumford 3 over.

Pre tournament favourites Ernie Els and Retief Goosen are at 6 under and 1 under respectively.

A little bit of trivia to finish off highlights the fact that fifteen of the seventy players who made the cut are Swedes. The question now however is whether one of them can win it.