Karlsson's challengers fail to show up

Swede Robert Karlsson won Europe's Order of Merit today when Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington and Miguel Angel Jimenez all fell short of their targets.

Westwood loomed as the biggest danger. Needing to win the Volvo Masters at Valderrama he was tied for the lead during the rain-delayed third round, but fell away when he went out again for the closing 18 holes in second place.

The event title was won by Dane Soren Kjeldsen, who despite bogeys on the 16th and 17th, won by one from Martin Kaymer.

"Fantastic," said Karlsoon in Spain. "In the last three-and-a-half years I have taken myself to a new level. "But this has been the hardest week I've ever experienced in golf. Your focus wanders quite a bit."

The 39-year-old would like to have finished his campaign in the style of Justin Rose last year — Rose won the final counting event — but instead was down in 32nd spot.

"It would have been fantastic to cap it off with a good week, but I'm not going to be ashamed about this week," said Karlsson. "In the last three and a half years I have taken myself to a new level and this is fantastic.

"But this has been the hardest week I've ever experienced in golf. It's one of those situations where you have it in your own hands, but not really, and your focus wanders quite a bit."

Graeme McDowell was best of the Irish after a 67 moved him to one under, two ahead of Darren Clarke, whose double bogey on the eighth prove costly in a round of 73.

Harrington found form too late. After two level par rounds he carded a 68 today to move to two-over-par but his first round of 76 put paid to his hopes.

Peter Lawrie and Rory McIlroy finished on 11 over, while Paul McGinley and Damien McGrane were 16 and 17 over respectively.

By winning the last-ever Volvo Masters, Kjeldsen leapt from 27th to 10th on the final Order of Merit and so qualifies for next June's US Open.

So too does Darren Clarke - the top 15 make it and he was 13th - while Colin Montgomerie's 27th place means he has secured a spot in The Open at Turnberry.

Kjeldsen said: "It was a long week, but a tournament like this deserved to finish in the sun and it did.

"I don't think I have ever been as nervous in my life."