Robert Karlsson carded a sensational course record 61 at Castello di Tolcinasco Golf and Country Club to grab a two shot lead at the halfway stage of the Methorios Capital Italian Open.
The towering Swede was in sensational form and included two eagle threes in his effort to post a 15 under par total of 129, just one shot outside Ian Poulter’s record 36 hole total for the tournament which the Englishman carded on his way to victory at Olgiata in 2002.
Nearest challengers to the Ryder Cup man were South African Hennie Otto, who lost in a play-off to Alastair Forsyth in Madeira six weeks ago and who gave himself the chance of his first European Tour title with a fine 66 for 13 under par 131, and England’s Mark Foster who exactly matched Otto’s score.
Meanwhile fourth place going into the weekend was shared by Argentina’s Estanislao Goya, current Number One on the Challenge Tour Rankings, who proved he could more than hold his own with the big boys with a second round 67 for an 11 under par total of 133, to move alongside reigning BMW PGA champion Anders Hansen, who carded a 65.
But the day was all about Karlsson who broke his fellow countryman Joakim Bäckström’s year old course record by a stroke and who more than justified his decision not to play in this week’s Players Championship on the US PGA Tour even though, at World Number 48, he was entitled to tee up at Sawgrass.
“My caddie actually got a text from Wilbur, Nick O’Hern’s caddie, who is at Sawgrass and it said ‘greens rock hard, fairways rock hard, rough very thick, greens running at 13, and forecast high winds’ so I said to him ‘maybe it is good that I am here!’
“After Augusta I got quite a few points and I think I was up at number 42 (in the World Rankings) but then the week afterwards I went back to 47 because Boo Weekley won and a few others won and so I went straight back down to where I was the week before.
“All of a sudden you don’t know and it only takes a couple of guys to win and you can go either way. So I decided to stay in Europe, in Monaco, and prepare for here which was good.
“If I had played at Sawgrass I would have come back to Ireland on Tuesday or something like that pretty tired and it worked out best for the family too because I can see the kids on Monday too so there are many plusses to coming here, in addition of course the lure of good Ryder Cup points if I can go on and win.”
Joint second placed Otto was not quite as spectacular but he at least managed a flawless round, something Karlsson did not after the Swede’s drive into the water cost him a bogey five at the 13th, the South African’s only departures from par being six birdies, three in each half.
“I made fewer mistakes today,” he said. “I found a lot of greens, and when you do that you give yourself a big chance. It’s important not to put pressure on yourself by having to make par putts, and I did that today.”
Otto admitted he was not surprised to see the round posted by Karlsson. “A good score is definitely out there. The course is in great condition – the greens seem to be getting better every day and if you hit it on the right line, the ball goes in – it’s as simple as that.
“Charles Schwartzel shot 61 in the Pro-Am, so it is possible. If you hit the ball well and get it close, the putts are makeable. I don’t really set myself targets. The most important thing is to remain patient.”
Alongside the South African, Mark Foster had a bit of everything in his 66, including a double bogey at the sixth where he pulled his drive into trouble, a three putt bogey at the 11th and eight birdies including two in his last three holes to move into a prominent position.
“I played very well all day,” he said. “I had one bad break out there on the sixth which I got severely punished for but the rest of the day went really well – I played some very solid golf. I was rolling the ball nicely on the greens, which I like a lot.
“When I went out I knew Robert had shot low, but I didn’t know his exact numbers. I had a look at the scoreboard when I was out there, and obviously to shoot 61 is an absolutely fantastic round of golf.
“But this course seems to suit me too. I didn’t have the best of times at the start of the season, but I’ve put that behind me now and moved on. I’m looking forward to the weekend now, and if I can keep this form going, I’ll be a happy man.”
While Karlsson stole the limelight at the top end of the leaderboard, the shot of the day came at the other end of the spectrum and featured former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker of England.
Hovering perilously close to the cut, the 40 year old believed he needed a birdie three at the 18th to get to four under par 140 – the mark at which the cut fell.
When his drive on the 423 yard hole disappeared under water, that eventuality seemed slim but, undaunted, Baker took his penalty drop and proceeded to fire his third shot – a seven iron from 174 yards – straight into the hole for the unlikeliest of birdie threes and a shot which also guaranteed his place in the weekend’s action.
Another player with an unusual tale to tell was Baker’s fellow countryman Oliver Wilson. Angry with himself for not making a birdie on the accessible par five ninth, the 27 year old swished his putter in anger and damaged the shaft of the blade.
Unable then, under the Rules of Golf, to use the putter for the rest of the round, Wilson was forced to putt with the blade of his sand wedge for the back nine, and promptly rolled in three birdies putts in a row from the 11th to help him card a 69, a nine under par total of 135 and a share of 13th place going into the weekend.
With the cut falling at four under par, one player to make the weekend right on the mark was two time Major Champion John Daly, who did not have the best of second days on his first visit to Castello di Tolcinasco, carding a one over par 73.
