Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

O&N HOME | NFL MLB NBA NHL NCAAF NCAABk Nascar Golf Soccer Tennis Boxing Horse Racing All Sports

Karlsson wins Qatar Masters to end drought

Sun 31st, January 2010

Doha, Qatar (Sports Network) - Sweden's Robert Karlsson fired a seven-under 65 on Sunday to capture the Qatar Masters and end a 15-month winless drought.

The former European Tour No. 1 made four birdies during a seven-hole stretch in the middle of his round to take the lead. He birdied his last two holes to seal his first win since October 5, 2008.

More than ending his victory drought, Karlsson proved he is finally past the eye injury that left him with blurry vision and forced him to miss four months in the middle of last season.

"I am really happy to be back playing well," Karlsson said. "It is the first time I have played really well for a long time and the way I finished off today was very satisfying."

Karlsson finished at 15-under 273 and beat 2009 champion Alvaro Quiros (67) by three shots. Karlsson battled reigning European No. 1 Lee Westwood for much of the back nine, but his playing partner in the final round couldn't keep up.

Westwood (70) cooled off after making four birdies in a five-hole stretch to get within one shot of the lead. He bogeyed the 16th and tied Brett Rumford (69) for third place at 11-under 277.

It was the end of a frustrating weekend for the reigning European No. 1.

Westwood cracked the face of his trusted driver on the 11th hole Saturday and failed to find a suitable replacement, leaving the 36-year-old Englishman with a gaping hole in his game.

He played virtually the entire back nine with a three-wood on Sunday, a difficult task on the long Doha course. Every time Westwood pulled his driver, he hit it into the left rough.

"Long, straight driving is obviously one of my strengths. You take somebody's strength away from them and it's going to be tough to compete," said Westwood.

Karlsson, 40, collected his 10th victory and first since his two-win season in 2008, when he was the first Swede ever to finish No. 1 on the money list. Among other things, last year's eye injury forced him to miss the final three majors of the season.

Seeing clearly again, Karlsson overcame a two-shot deficit after the third round with a flawless 18 holes that produced the lowest score of the tournament.

He picked up three shots on the front nine, including back-to-back birdies at the seventh and eighth holes that tied him with Bradley Dredge for the lead. Karlsson then birdied the 11th hole to move into first place by himself.

Although he would never relinquish his spot atop the leaderboard, Karlsson's win was anything but certain with Westwood in the mix.

Four Westwood birdies between the 10th and 14th holes kept Karlsson on his toes. Westwood's birdie at the 13th moved him within a shot, while both players birdied the 14th to distance themselves from the field.

Westwood, however, went on to bogey the 16th hole to fall two strokes behind and was eventually passed by Quiros for second place.

Karlsson finished strong, posting birdies at his last two holes to win by three shots -- a margin that would have seemed impossible only an hour before.

"It is fantastic to be back," said Karlsson.

Calling Karlsson's win "deserved," Westwood said: "He is what you would regard as a regular winner on the European Tour, so he's probably back where he belongs."

NOTES: Third round co-leaders Dredge and Paul Casey both closed with 74s to fall into a tie for fifth place with Oliver Wilson (71) at eight-under 280...Thomas Bjorn (68) finished alone at 281...2007 champion Retief Goosen (72) and Camilo Villegas (70) led a large group at 282...Sergio Garcia never broke 70 and finished 12 shots back in a tie for 24th place...Next week is the Dubai Desert Classic, where Rory McIlroy won last year.