Robert Karlsson, winner of the Via Digital Open de España at the end of April, saw out the month of May in equally impressive style to lead after the first round of the Victor Chandler British Masters at The Marquess Course at Woburn Golf and Country Club.
The 31 year old Swede, tall and willowy like the majestic trees which line the newest venue on The European Tour International Schedule, shot a six under par 66 in the first competitive round over a new course which received numerous accolades on a day when some of the Tour’s established stars bared their teeth.
Karlsson’s round carried him one shot ahead of Australian Adam Scott, himself a winner earlier in the season, while no fewer than seven players shared third place on 68, among them Colin Montgomerie, who has taken time to find his stride after a good start to the year in lifting the Ericsson Masters.
A 40-1 chance with sponsor, Victor Chandler, before the tournament, Karlsson’s odds had shrunk to 10-1 by the time he sank the last of his six birdie putts. At El Saler in Spain, Karlsson managed his game superbly to record his third European Tour win, and he appears to have added the extra element of composure to his accomplished game.
He explained: “I tried a bit too hard with those big tournaments in the past. I felt I was playing well and pushed a bit too hard. I made silly mistakes and got out of the rhythm. You know the story – got a bit impatient, tried a bit harder, made another bogey. Now I just go out, relax a bit more, have a bit more fun.”
Karlsson lavished praise on The Marquess. He said: “It’s a beautiful golf course. I think they have done a very good job on the design. It is one of the top new courses I have played.”
Scott, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa in January, produced a hat-trick of birdies to finish his round – ironically in the company of Justin Rose, the player he pipped by a stroke to win his maiden title in Johannesburg.
He laughed: “I really enjoy playing with Justin. It’s good fun. We get along great and actually had dinner together last night in Woburn and just hung out a little bit together.”
Montgomerie, in spite of an erratic start, displayed some of his old pinpoint accuracy during an inward half of 30 to shoot 68 along with Eamonn Darcy, David Howell, Marco Bernardini, Greg Owen, Erol Simsek and Sven Strüver.
He said: “To come back in 30 was good because it proves there is not a lot wrong with my game and to hole a 50 footer at the last was an added bonus because I was looking to two putt to break 70. I just have to use that technique more often.”
The seven-times Volvo Order of Merit winner concurred with Karlsson over the quality and testing nature of The Marquess. He said: “With the breezes we’ve got here, this is a very, very good golf course – certainly one of the best layouts we’ve played this year. I think it is excellent.
“I haven’t won on The European Tour for over a year and that is becoming a bit of a problem. I need to win and I like this course – this course has me written all over it.”
Only one stroke behind were Thomas Björn, Lee Westwood and Sandy Lyle. Both Westwood and Lyle had missed the cut in the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth Club last week but moved into a more challenging position this time around.
Westwood only decided to play on Sunday after receiving a late invitation from Victor Chandler. The decision, taken after missing the cut the previous day, paid off with a round of 69, tarnished only by a solitary bogey at the last.
“I was pretty happy, although a little disappointed with the final hole. I just pulled the wrong club from the bag and bunkered my four iron. Apart from that I was pretty steady. To be honest it could have been more and it could have been less.”
Lyle, with his former caddie Dave Musgrove back on his bag, rekindled memories of yesteryear with seven birdies in his 69. He mused: “I didn’t even realise that I had made seven birdies. It’s been a while.”
The past Open and Masters Champion, a winner of the British Masters at Woburn in 1988, added: “There were a lot of good memories with Dave back on the bag. He is a very good caddie. I’ve had lots of different caddies in the last four or five years but I still think he is my Number One.”
