AALVESLOHE, Germany -- Robert Karlsson shot a 5-under 67 in
the final round Sunday to win the Deutsche Bank Players'
Championship by four strokes.
Karlsson's second victory of the year boosted him into position
to qualify for Europe's Ryder Cup team. He also won the Wales Open
in June.
The Swede, who double-bogeyed the final hole after losing his
tee shot, won with a 25-under total of 263, a record for this
23-year-old event.
"I have to take on board that I won this title before I think
about the Ryder Cup," Karlsson said.
Charl Schwartzel shot a 67 to share second place with
Lee Westwood (69).
There was a four-way tie for fourth among Graeme McDowell (65),
Andres Romero (66), Retief Goosen (67) and Emanuele Canonica (67).
"I can't use the word 'easy' but I felt pretty much as if I was
in control of what was happening out there and it felt fantastic,"
Karlsson said.
"I'll probably get in the Ryder Cup now, but that's sort of a
bonus for playing well," added Karlsson, who was overlooked for a
wild-card pick by Mark James after placing 11th in the European
standings in 1999.
Karlsson, though, said that had nothing to do with his decision
to nearly quit the game in 2000 because he was playing so poorly.
"I felt very lost on the golf course. That's why I wanted to
stop," he said. "But now it feels as if after so many years of
feeling I should be able to play well, I'm finally doing it."
Karlsson led Westwood by two at the start of the day and that
was cut to one when Westwood birdied the first. But Karlsson
birdied the third, and when Westwood double-bogeyed four, the
result began to look inevitable.
Ian Woosnam (72) also faded after a triple-bogey seven at the
third, where his second shot went over a 2-foot stone wall and he
took two shots to get back on the fairway.
Gary Orr of Scotland was alone in eighth place while
Sergio Garcia, fifth in the British Open last week, tied for ninth with
Soren Hansen after a 68.