Robert Karlsson was delighted to join the host of golfing greats who have won the coveted World Cup trophy after combining with Henrik Stenson yesterday to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden.
Robert Karlsson was delighted to join the host of golfing greats who have won the coveted World Cup trophy after combining with Henrik Stenson yesterday to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden.
The duo had made a relatively low-key start to the tournament and went into the final round four strokes behind the joint leaders, Spain and Australia.
However, Stenson and Karlsson saved their best till last, carding a nine-under-par 63 in the tricky foursomes format. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal could only manage a two-under 70 to finish on 264, 24 under par and three strokes behind Sweden.
Consequently, 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner Karlsson and world No.12 Stenson join a lengthy list of famous pairings, such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Harold Henning, and Tiger Woods and David Duval, as World Cup winners.
"It means very much to win for our country," said Karlsson. "This has always been an event in Sweden that's been big.
"If you look at the trophy, there's many impressive winning pairings there. I hope we can look back on it in the future and say the same about us playing here."
Stenson had come close to winning on two previous occasions with Sweden, finishing second and third in 2005 and 2006, respectively. It was also a first victory of the year for the 32-year-old and the Dubai-based Swede was honoured to have won.
"We've had a great time all week," said Stenson. "We played fantastic today. "I haven't had a win so far this year and I have got one now."
For Jimenez and Larrazabal it was a disappointing end to a tournament where they had looked well placed for victory heading into the weekend.
Much like Sweden yesterday, Spain were superb in foursomes in the second round as they shot a 63 to move four shots clear of the field.
However, they failed to build on that over the final two rounds and ultimately a bogey and only three birdies yesterday cost them a chance of success.
But 2008 European Tour Rookie of the Year Larrazabal was gracious in defeat, accepting the best team on the day won.
"We didn't play like we did in the first and second rounds, but it was still a good performance and a great tournament for us," said the 25-year-old.
"But you know, I wanted so bad to go home with the trophy, and I'm a little bit sad now. However, the best team today was Sweden, so congratulations to them."
England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher finished strongly with a five-under-par 67 and claimed sixth place. However, their resurgence came too late after disappointing scores in the first two rounds all but ended their chances of a World Cup victory. "We could have run close but we had a bad day on Thursday and Friday," said Poulter.
Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell endured their worst round for Ireland, carding a five-over 77 to drop to 16th place.
Scotland's Colin Motgomerie and Alastair Forsyth signed for a 72 to finish tied for 19th place on 281, seven under par and 20 shots behind Sweden.
