Rikard Karlberg’s year just keeps getting better. Having earned a two-year exemption to The European Tour courtesy of his maiden victory at the 72° Open D’Italia by presented DAMIANI, the newly married Swede, whose wife is due to give birth in December, could also be heading Dubai in November for his first appearance at the prestigious season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Karlberg became the 50th Qualifying School graduate to win the year after graduation as he claimed the 99th Swedish victory on Tour.
The 28-year-old claimed a winner’s cheque for €250,000 after his play-off victory over Germany’s Martin Kaymer to move from 86th into 47th in The Race to Dubai with 501,875 points. That gives him a great chance of making the field for the season-ending showdown, which is open to the top 60 players on the rankings, taking place at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November Thursday 19 to Sunday November 22.
“It feels amazing to get my first win and it has been a pretty crazy year for me,” said Karlberg. “I got married and now my wife is expecting twins in December! So to get my first win on Tour and to give myself such a huge boost in my career is pretty special.”
Kaymer, meanwhile, was disappointed to relinquish a three-shot lead down the back nine in the final round. But his runner-up finish, and the €166,660 prize cheque that accompanied it, moved him from 17th to 11th in The Race to Dubai.
With a Bonus Pool of US$5 million set to be divided between the top 15 players in the season-long rankings following the conclusion of the DP World Tour Championship, as well an additional US$1,365,500 on offer to be split between any of the top 15 finishers who compete in three of the four Final Series, the German will be hoping he can maintain his form for the remainder of the season.
The Race to Dubai’s top ten remains unaltered with Rory McIlroy (3,012,000 points) still leading the way from Danny Willett (2,706,105 points).
The DP World Tour Championship gets under way on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates in just under two months. General admission is free of charge and can be obtained by registering online at www.DPWorldTourChampionship.com.
Those who register will also be placed into a prize draw with the chance to win a VIP Hospitality package for the Championship Chalet.
