A course record 63 at Barsebäck catapulted Robert Karlsson into a share of the lead with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts going into the final round of the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters as the Swede targets a second successive victory.
Karlsson’s nine under par round, three shots better then any other player in the field on a day of swirling winds, took him to nine under par 207, a total that led all day until Colsaerts came in with a one over par 73. Fellow Swede Jarmo Sandelin lies alone in third place a shot back on eight under par 208 after an impressive 66.
The last player to win back-to-back titles was Ernie Els early in 2005, and Karlsson now has a golden opportunity to emulate that feat and win his third title of the season in front of an adoring home crowd.
The 6ft 5in Swede birdied the last to beat Peter Lawrie’s 2004 record by a stroke as he looks to add to his victories in last week’s Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship of Europe and the Celtic Manor Wales Open in June. Whilst he is virtually assured of a place in The European Ryder Cup Team already, victory would put the matter beyond any doubt.
Admitting to tiredness and pressure earlier this week after his success in Germany, Karlsson had to fight to make the cut with a stroke to spare. Having overcome that hurdle, though, he then went to town.
Out in 32 with five birdies and a bogey, Karlsson played even better on his back nine, securing an eagle and four more birdies, picking up a shot on the last, and dropping just one more shot.
"I made the mistake of playing on Tuesday, not realising how much winning had taken out of me," Karlsson said. "And the result was I shot 75 in the first round.
"Those are the things you have to learn. But look at Tiger Woods. He has this every time he plays, and what a lot of respect I have for him.
"When I was four-over after six yesterday it didn't look too good, so it was a big challenge. I told myself to just keep patient, don't push too hard.
"Today I was happy to play so stress-free."
Karlsson lies seventh on Europe's Ryder Cup table, with ten automatic places being decided in just over four weeks' time in Munich at the BMW International.
With 266,660 points on offer, first place for Karlsson would rubber-stamp his team place against the USA at The K Club, Ireland, but he refuses to take himself that far ahead.
"The Ryder Cup was never a target, I was so far away from it and it's only the last couple of months it has even touched my mind," Karlsson said.
"My target was to go out and enjoy and as long as I can do that, I was confident sooner or later things would come together - as they have at the moment.
"I'm only focusing on things I can control."
Colsaerts, who has led from the start, mixed three bogeys with two birdies to match Karlsson’s nine under par total. Although the Swede will undoubtedly have the support of the home crowd, Colsaerts is confident he will not be intimidated by The European Tour’s form player.
“It was quite tough as it was blowing quite hard when we started,” said Colsaerts. “I felt I could have done a lot better on the back nine. Felt I had at least three chances on the back nine but made a good save on the 17th so maybe it evened itself out but I felt I had my foot under the pedal.”
Sandelin is also sure to attract a large gallery after he too made huge strides with a 66, coming home in just 30 strokes thanks to six birdies on the back nine.
Sandelin will line up in the final round alongside compatriot Peter Gustafsson, who shot a 67, with England’s David Carter, who has his own Swedish connections with his partner, Theresa being Fredrik Jacobson’s sister, also on seven under par along with Mark Roe and Marc Warren.