2008 keeps getting better for Karlsson
IN: News | European PGA | Alfred Dunhill Links Championship (2008) | Round Four | by Bruce Young | 06 Oct 2008
Robert Karlsson continued his remarkable year by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews and in doing so has swept to the top of the European Tour Order of Merit.
Karlsson moved ahead of Padraig Harrington as the leading money winner in Europe when he recorded a final round of 65 then birdied the first extra hole of a playoff to defeat Ross Fisher and Martin Kaymer to claim his second title of the year.
Karlsson has been one of the game’s standout players in 2008. Not only has he now won two significant European Tour events (including the Mercedes-Benz Championship three weeks ago) but he has been a model of consistency wherever he has played. In addition to his two victories he has finsihed runner-up twice and in third place, three times this season. He also brilliantly won his singles match against Justin Leonard at the recent Ryder Cup.
Top ten finishes in three of the four majors are a further indication of just how far the 39-year-old Swede’s game has progressed in 2008. Prior to this year he had only recorded one top ten in all of the majors he had played in previously.
Kaymer had the lead with two holes to play but fell victim to the treacherous ‘Road Hole’. A bogey there and he was tied with Karlsson and Fisher and although he had a birdie opportunity at the last, he was unable to convert and went on to lose the playoff.
Fisher has been in a rich vein of form of late winning the European Open in July and continuing to play well in recent events. A brilliant eagle at the 14th brought the Englishman into winning calculations but he was unable to secure the one extra birdie he would need.
Jarmo Sandelin held the lead with Kaymer into the final day but was unable to match the strong finishing rounds of those who finished ahead. For the tall Swede however it would be a significant week. He now has guaranteed status in Europe in 2009 and in finishing 4th recorded his best finish in Europe in more than two years.
Michael Campbell was the best of the Australasians, finishing in 13th position, Marcus Fraser was 24th, Peter Fowler was 31st, Matthew Millar 52nd and Greg Chalmers 66th.
The European Tour will now play the Madrid Masters in Spain.
