Karlsson wins Dunhill Links Championship after close contest

Published on Sunday 5 October 2008 19:30

Robert Karlsson today won his second successive European Tour event to blow the battle for the Order of Merit wide open.

Karlsson birdied the first play-off hole at St Andrews to win the Dunhill Links Championship from Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher after the trio had finished tied on 10 under par.

The 432,000 first prize takes the Swede ahead of double major winner Padraig Harrington in the Order of Merit with just four events of the season remaining.

Karlsson, who won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany the week before the Ryder Cup, plans to play one more event before the season-ending Volvo Masters but Harrington will only compete at Valderrama.

On a day of low scoring in benign conditions on the Old Course, Karlsson and Fisher set the clubhouse target after matching rounds of 65.

Kaymer held a one-shot lead on the 17th tee but bogeyed the famous Road Hole after coming up short of the green, and then missed a birdie putt for the title from eight feet on the 18th.

The 23-year-old German then also missed from 12ft for birdie on the first extra hole – after Fisher's hopes disappeared when he drove into the Swilcan Burn – but Karlsson made no mistake after a superb approach to three feet.

Harrington went into the final round just two off the lead but could only manage a closing 71 to finish in a tie for 13th.

• Read The Scotsman tomorrow for in-depth coverage of the Dunhill Links Championship