GOLF QATAR MASTERS:ROBERT KARLSSON completed a stunning comeback from a career-threatening eye injury with a comprehensive, three-stroke victory at the Qatar Masters yesterday.
After becoming the first Swedish player to be named European number one in 2008, Karlsson was sidelined for four months last year suffering from blurred vision caused by fluid behind the retina in his left eye.
But at Doha Golf Club the 40-year-old was back to the best which saw him win twice in 2008 to ensure a second successive Ryder Cup appearance.
Karlsson produced the round of the week to win with a stylish bogey-free seven-under-par final round.
“The focus this year was to come back and start to put together good rounds and then a string of good rounds and then you never know what’s going to happen,” said Karlsson, following his 10th career title.
“That’s the thing I am most happy with. It’s not really the win, it’s fantastic to win, but to play four really good rounds together, that’s the most satisfying.”
Karlsson had produced hints he was returning to form at the end of last year after losing in a play-off in Japan before claiming second-place alongside Henrik Stenson at the World Cup in China.
After beginning the day two shots adrift, Karlsson shared a one-shot lead with Bradley Dredge at the turn, but as the Welshman’s challenge faltered, Lee Westwood mounted a late bid with a run of four birdies in five holes.
The European number one trailed his playing partner by one shot with four holes to play, but the world number four was becoming increasingly frustrated with a new driver after cracking the face of his previous club during the third round.
And Westwood’s challenge came to an abrupt halt with a three-putt bogey with two holes to play before Karlsson ensured his first victory since the 2008 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship with back-to-back birdies.
Big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros took advantage of Westwood’s demise with a hat-trick of late birdies to claim second in an admirable title defence.
Westwood was forced to settle for a tie for third a further shot off the pace alongside Australia’s Brett Rumford (69) after a final round 70 handed him a 12th top-10 finish from his last 15 outings.
Peter Lawrie finished best of the Irish on six-under-par 282 after a final round of 69. Graeme McDowell was one-shot back after a 71, while Shane Lowry closed with a level-par 72 for a three-under-par total of 285.
Scoreboard
(British unless stated, Irish in bold)
273– R Karlsson (Swe) 68 70 70 65 (€294,584)
276– A Quiros (Spa) 71 70 68 67 (€196,387).
277– B Rumford (Aus) 69 66 73 69, L Westwood 68 69 70 70 (€99,512 each).
280– O Wilson 67 70 72 71, P Casey 71 69 66 74, B Dredge 67 69 70 74.
281– T Bjorn (Den) 73 70 70 68.
282– R Gonzalez (Arg) 72 72 71 67, R Goosen (SA) 73 71 66 72, N Fasth (Swe) 70 68 73 71, C Villegas (Col) 70 72 70 70, Peter Lawrie72 68 73 69 (€33,264).
283– P Hanson (Swe) 70 69 73 71, C Wood 75 68 69 71, Graeme McDowell73 67 72 71 (€24,421), C Schwartzel (SA) 70 69 73 71, N Dougherty 72 71 71 69, L Oosthuizen (SA) 72 72 71 68.
284– S Hutsby 72 71 72 69, M Warren 71 71 68 74, S Hansen (Den) 75 69 72 68, D Horsey 74 69 69 72.
285– R Bland 74 69 67 75, S Garcia (Spa) 70 70 72 73, Shane Lowry71 70 72 72 (€18,117), E Molinari (Ita) 73 72 70 70.
286– I Garrido (Spa) 72 68 73 73, D Willett 76 68 71 71, S Dyson 73 71 70 72.
287– P Larrazabal (Spa) 75 70 69 73.
288– S Kjeldsen (Den) 74 72 73 69, J Haeggman (Swe) 77 69 74 68, R Ramsay 70 73 75 70, M Siem (Ger) 68 75 72 73, M Kaymer (Ger) 74 70 71 73, P Hedblom (Swe) 73 72 70 73, T Jaidee (Tha) 75 70 72 71, S Dodd 75 70 72 71, G Fdez-Castano (Spa) 74 71 67 76, Michael Hoey74 72 71 71.
289– M Lundberg (Swe) 71 73 74 71, R Fisher 70 73 71 75, M Lafeber (Ned) 78 68 73 70. 290 – D Lee (NZ) 73 73 72 72, S Gallacher 75 70 70 75, F Delamontagne (Fra) 71 73 73 73, M Brown (NZ) 76 68 71 75. 291 – R Jan Derksen (Ned) 71 72 75 73, M Ilonen (Fin) 74 69 75 73, Gareth Maybin71 74 72 74, A Kang (USA) 73 70 74 74, K Perry (USA) 74 72 71 74, A Noren (Swe) 68 76 74 73, R Finch 74 67 74 76, R Green (Aus) 74 72 75 70. 293 – H Otto (SA) 71 74 70 78, C Nilsson (Swe) 74 72 76 71, J Bickerton 74 72 73 74, T Levet (Fra) 75 71 71 76, S Khan 76 69 76 72, J Randhawa (Ind) 77 69 76 71. 294 – S Micheel (USA) 73 71 78 72. 295 – S Kapur (Ind) 74 72 73 76, H Stenson (Swe) 75 69 77 74. 296 – MA Jimenez (Spa) 72 70 76 78, R Jacquelin (Fra) 74 71 71 80. 297 – A Hansen (Den) 71 75 76 75.
