The Karlsson surprise package

It was no surprise to see a Robert Karlsson on top of the Nordea Masters leaderboard at the end of Thursday’s first round.
It was no surprise to see a Robert Karlsson on top of the Nordea Masters leaderboard at the end of Thursday’s first round.
It certainly was a surprise, though, that this Robert Karlsson was 22-year-old Stockholm amateur rather than the seasoned Swedish Ryder Cup player.
While the 41-year-old, internationally-known Karlsson would finish late in the afternoon in contention in an eight-way tie for eighth place at 3-under 69, his little-known amateur namesake, one of the earlier starters, would already be occupying centre stage, sitting atop the leaderboard in a three-way tie for first at 5-under 67
Karlsson, the amateur, was tied for first with fellow Swede Alex Noren and a South African European Tour rookie Jaco van Zyl.
The unheralded young Swede came out at the Bro Hof Slott golf course on Thursday morning and promptly birdied four of his first eight holes.
He then birdied another two by the 15th to top the leaderboard at 6-under with three holes to go.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, though.
He dropped two shots with a double bogey at 17, but to his credit, he kept his cool and got one back with his seventh birdie at the 18th.
Noren, one of the pre-tournament favourites and a previous Tour winner, had earlier shot eight birdies, but had lost three shots via a bogey and double bogey.
Van Zyl, who has come onto the European Tour this year via the Tour’s tough Q-School, was the most consistent of the three leaders, shooting three birdies on each nine as against just one bogey.
“That was a great start to the tournament, obviously,” said Karlsson, the younger, playing in only his second European Tour event.
“Ever since I qualified on Monday, I’ve been trying to really enjoy this experience. It’s hard not to smile.”
Van Zyl, who picked up a second in Morocco earlier this year, said: “It was good. Really tough conditions, very good golf course.”
Noren, who birdied five of his first six holes after starting at the tenth, had a slight slump after the turn, but then had a run of three birdies over the closing stretch, was delighted with his round.
“It was great, the first few holes were unbelievable,” said Noren, who won his second European Tour title in Wales earlier this year.
“It felt so much easier than it has ever felt, then it got really tough on the front nine.
“I was really nervous going into today – in front of all your family and friends and they want to see if you can play or if you’re out there because your lucky.But it turned out to be great fun. It’s a great start and in this weather it was pretty tough.”
Another Swede, Niklas Lemke, was joined by England’s John Parry, Italian Lorenzo Gagli and Spaniard Alfredo Garcia-Heredia on four under, with pre-tournament favourite Karlsson one of eight players a shot further back.
TOP 10 LEADERBOARD
67 Robert Karlsson (Swe), Alexander Noren (Swe), Jaco Van Zyl (Rsa)
68 John Parry, Niklas Lemke (Swe), Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (Spa), Lorenzo Gagli (Ita)
69 Pontus Widegren (Swe), Robert Karlsson (Swe), Kristoffer Broberg (Swe), Felipe Aguilar (Chi), Anthony Wall, Scott Hend (Aus), Richard Finch, Pablo Martin (Spa)
Latest
-
European Tour
Ian Poulter among three LIV Golf Series players to get Scottish Open reprieve
Poulter, Adrian Otaegui and Justin Harding have had their suspensions temporarily stayed.
-
News
Graeme McDowell shocked by people wishing him dead since switching to LIV Golf
The 2010 US Open champion acknowledged his switch to LIV was “about the money”.
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston completes wire-to-wire victory at John Deere Classic
England’s Callum Tarren bogeyed two of his last four holes en route to a one-under 70 as he was forced to settle for equal-sixth place.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk makes history for Poland as David Law celebrates Open berth
Meronk’s flying finish made him his country’s first winner on the DP World Tour.
-
News
Paul Casey becomes latest player to join LIV Golf series
He opted out of the inaugural Saudi International on the European Tour in 2019 citing concerns over the country’s human rights record.
-
European Tour
Adrian Meronk has the edge as he aims to make Tour history for Poland
A third round of 68 at Mount Juliet means a one-shot advantage on a crowded leaderboard.
-
European Tour
Shane Lowry birdies last four holes to make Irish Open cut
Jorge Campillo tops the leaderboard at the midway point.
-
European Tour
Keith Pelley hits back at 16 players threatening DP World Tour with legal action
Pelley says the sanctions against players who competed in the first LIV Golf event are ‘proportionate’ and ‘fair’.
-
PGA Tour
JT Poston takes two-shot lead at John Deere Classic
The 29-year-old also became the first player on record to open consecutive Tour events with 62 or better.
-
European Tour
Ryan Fox surprised to be leading after opening round of Horizon Irish Open
The New Zealander carded a flawless 64 to set the pace at Mount Juliet.