Elusive 59 just slips away for Karlsson

swede has to settle for course record

By Mark Garrod

Published:

For a few magical moments yesterday, Robert Karlsson thought he could be just minutes away from becoming the first player to score 59 on the European Tour.

As with everybody else in that envious position so far it did not happen, but setting a course record of 61 and equalling the lowest round of his 20-year tour career was good enough for the Ryder Cup Swede.

Having opted for the relatively low-key Italian Open rather than golf’s richest event – and that despite finishing sixth in the TPC last year – Karlsson leads by two from England’s Mark Foster and South African Hennie Otto at halfway.

His round at Castello di Tolcinasco just south of Milan even included a drive into water on the 433-yard 13th, his fourth.

But the 38-year-old had started with three successive birdies, he then eagled the 15th and first with putts of 30ft and 20ft and when he birdied four of the next six he was 10 under for the day.

That meant a birdie-eagle finish on the short eighth and 513-yard ninth would bring that 59.

“It did cross my mind, but I’ve had some problems on eight in the past — I was pretty happy with a 3 there,” he said.

A closing 10ft birdie putt gave Karlsson a 15-under total which matches the third lowest in tour history for 36 holes and now his sights are on a win which would lift him from eighth to sixth in the Ryder Cup race.

Marc Warren leads the Scottish challenge, six shots adrift of the leader on nine under after a second round 70 to add to Thursday’s 65.

Gary Orr is on six under with Steven O’Hara one shot behind and Alastair Forysth on four under to squeeze into today’s third round.

American John Daly will also be involved in the final two rounds for only the third time in 12 starts this season.

Former Ryder Cup player Peter Baker made it through with nothing to spare as well after a dramatic 18th hole when he drove into the lake and then holed a 174yd seven iron for a birdie 3.

Stephen Gallacher picked up four birdies in his final 10 holes, but it still was not enough to save him from missing the cut.

The Press and Journal columnist carded a three-under par second round of 69 to follow his opening day 72, but dropped out at the halfway stage amid a flurry of low scoring.

Gallacher got to three under with three holes remaining, but could not find the birdie he required in the closing stages of his round.

Aberdeen’s Richie Ramsay’s tournament also came to an early finish after failing to break par over his two rounds. He fired a disappointing 75 for 148 to miss the cut by eight strokes.