Karlsson puts icing on the 2008 cake
IN: News | European PGA | Mercedes-Benz Championship (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 15 Sep 2008
Robert Karlsson put the icing on an already lucrative 2008 cake when he won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Cologne by two shots over Italian Francesco Molinari.
Karlsson was in or near the lead for most of the event after his opening round of 67 and took a three shot lead over Molinari and last week’s Omega European Masters winner, Jean Francois Lucquin, into the final round.
Despite a double bogey at his second hole today, Karlsson’s first victory since the 2006 Deutsche Bank Player Championship was never really in doubt and he comfortably held Molinari at bay by two shots with a further two shots back to a resurgent Michael Campbell, Ross Fisher and Karlsson’s Ryder Cup team-mate Miguel Angel Jimenez.
Karlsson has enjoyed an outstanding season in 2008 despite not winning prior to this week. Importantly, he has elevated his status in world golf via his exploits in the majors, having finished inside the top ten in three of the four and 20th at the PGA. This weeks’ victory was his 9th top ten of 2008.
Italian, Molinari, is in his third season on the European Tour and like Karlsson has moved to another level in 2008. The winner of his own National Open in 2006, Molinari is beginning to emerge from the shadow created by his brother’s victory in the US Amateur in 2005 and, with five top fives already this season, he is assured of his best season by some way. The 25-year-old recovered from a slow start to his round to finish on his own in second place.
This week was a litmus test of sorts for New Zealander, Michael Campbell. With clear indications of his form returning in recent weeks, Campbell arrived at Gut Larchenhof as a previous winner at this venue. He confirmed his recent form with yet another good week and what has been an amazing transformation continues.
After a slow start to the event, Stuart Appleby finished as the best of the three Australians in 16th place with weekend rounds of 68 and 69. Richard Green did well in his first event for a month when 22nd, while Scott Strange was 52nd and New Zealander Mark Brown was Mark Brown was 67th.
The European Tour takes a break this week with all eyes focused firmly on the battle at Valhalla starting on Friday.
