Robert Karlsson is trumped by amateur namesake

RYDER Cup star Robert Karlsson began the Nordea Masters as the home nation's leading hope but before he had even got halfway round he had been overshadowed - by his amateur namesake.

The 22-year-old, making only his second appearance at a professional tournament, shot an impressive opening 67 at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club to earn a share of the first-round lead.

Karlsson's five-under total put him level with compatriot Alexander Noren and South Africa's Jaco van Zyl.

After an indifferent start the professional Karlsson birdied three of his last ten holes, but by then he knew his younger namesake would be the one taking the headlines.

"That was a great start to the tournament, obviously," said the amateur Karlsson, who only booked his entry into the event earlier this week. "Ever since I qualified on Monday I've been trying to really enjoy this experience. It's hard not to smile."

Having picked up just one stroke in his first five holes, at the 432-yard third, the amateur Karlsson carded five birdies between the sixth and 13th.

A double-bogey at the short 17th in increasingly wet conditions dropped him back to four under but he bounced back with a birdie at the last.

The other Robert Karlsson, Ryder Cup star and 41-year-old 11-time European Tour winner, was level par after eight holes after a birdie at the third was immediately handed back at the par-3 fourth. Three birdies from the ninth improved his situation to be only two behind the leaders in a share of eighth place.

Fellow Swede Noren went to the turn in level par after his three birdies were cancelled out by a double-bogey at the 465-yard second and another dropped shot at the short fourth.

England's John Parry's 68 put him in joint fourth place alongside Niklas Lemke and Spain's Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and Italy's Lorenzo Gagli.

America's Bubba Watson finished with a one-under 71 after carding four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in his last 10 holes.

Compatriot Dustin Johnson, the pre-tournament favourite after his second place at the Open on Sunday, signed for a one-over 73 after going to the turn in 38.

The top Scots were David Drysdale and Alastair Forsyth who shot level-par 72s. Scott Jamieson and Elliot Saltman had 73s, Steven O'Hara shot a 75, George Murray and Gary Orr 78s, while Marc Warren shot a horror nine-over-par 81.