Karlsson is a Record-Breaker at Celtic Manor

Robert Karlsson continued to devour his opponents and The European Tour record books in equal measures at a sun-kissed Celtic Manor Resort as he swept six strokes clear of the field going into the final round of The Celtic Manor Wales Open. The Swede became the first player to break 190 for 54 holes and anything under the par of 69 to close would eclipse Ian Woosnam and David Llewellyn’s all-time low total of 258.

The 36 year old went into the third round holding a three shot lead with a record halfway total of 124. By the end of another glorious day, Karlsson had doubled his advantage and claimed the 54-hole record with a round of 65 for 189. In the process, that score beat Tiger Woods’s 192 in the 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational.

With 18 holes to play, Karlsson has a commanding advantage over England’s Paul Broadhurst, who fired a third round 67 in the company of the long-hitting Swede for 12 under par while Scotland’s Gary Orr matched Karlsson’s 65 to claim third place on 11 under.

The Roman Road course is custom-built for Karlsson who, much to Broadhurst’s chagrin, was booming the ball between 30 and 40 yards past him. That fact showed up loud and clear on, appropriately, Derby Day, when Karlsson suggested that the contest for the title might be a one horse race.

Karlsson, though, disabused everyone within earshot of that likelihood after signing for another round in the 60s. Asked if the title was effectively in the bag, he retorted: “Not at all. There are another 18 holes to play and if someone behind me throws in a 61, I will have to play pretty good to get it.

“I have to keep focused. I can’t start thinking like it is mine to lose. If you do, you are in big trouble. I just have to keep doing what I am doing to stay away from these thoughts and play my own game.”

Should he succeed, it would be a sixth European Tour title for the 6ft 5in colossus. It would also enable to sneak into the top ten in the European Ryder Cup Points List and within striking distance of an elusive place in Ian Woosnam’s European side at The K Club in September.

That would, in some way, make up for his experience in 1999 when he finished 11^th in the qualifying table but was overlooked by Mark James as a Captain’s pick. Seven years on, Karlsson bears no ill will towards the Englishman, but admits that the experience left him “like a balloon pricked by a needle”.

No longer deflated, Karlsson is more hopeful than expectant in 2006. He said: “It was a shock and I questioned why it happened, but he was the Captain and made his decision. It was a tough experience but a learning curve for me. It would be a fantastic bonus to get in this team, but there are a lot of big tournaments coming up and a lot of good players who would expect to be in the side. I reckon I would have to earn as much again to make it….but first, I have to take care of tomorrow.”

Broadhurst, unbeaten in his only Ryder Cup appearance in 1991, is keen to return to the fold 15 years on. He should earn good points this week but admitted; “A six shot lead is massive the way he’s playing. He’s making it like a pitch and putt track, to be honest. He’s playing nicely and it’s going to be tough to catch him.”

Orr, a winner twice in 2000, feels he is gradually getting back to the form which earned him his double success. Over the past two days, he has played the back nine in 28 and 30 shots, prompting him to quip: “Does that constitute a 58?”