RYDER CUP star Robert Karlsson began the Scandinavian Masters as the home nation’s leading hope, but before he had even got halfway round he had been overshadowed – by his amateur namesake.

The 22-year-old, making only his second appearance at a professional tournament, shot an impressive 67 at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club to earn a share of yesterday’s first-round lead in Stockholm.

Karlsson’s five-under total put him level with compatriot Alexander Noren and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl.

After an indifferent start, the professional Karlsson birdied three of his last 10 holes, but by then he knew his namesake would be the one taking the headlines.

“That was a great start to the tournament, obviously,” said the amateur Karlsson, who only booked his entry into the event earlier this week.

“Ever since I qualified on Monday I’ve been trying to really enjoy this experience. It’s hard not to smile.”

Having picked up just one stroke in his first five holes, at the 432-yard third, the amateur Karlsson carded five birdies between the sixth and 13th.

A double-bogey at the short 17th in increasingly wet conditions dropped him back, but he bounced back with a birdie at the last.

The other Robert Karlsson, Ryder Cup star and 41-year-old 11-time European Tour winner, was level par after eight holes after a birdie at the third was immediately handed back at the par-three fourth.

Three birdies from the ninth improved his situation to be only two behind the leaders in a share of eighth place.

Noren went to the turn in level par after his three birdies were cancelled out by a double-bogey at the 465-yard second and another dropped shot at the short fourth.

The Stockholm-born 29-year-old admitted to a few anxieties playing on home soil.

“I was really nervous going into today in front of all your family and friends as they want to see if you can play or if you’re out there because you’re lucky,” he said.

“It was great, the first few holes were unbelievable. It felt so much easier than it has ever felt, then it got really tough on the front nine.

“But it was really fun. It’s a great start and in this weather it was pretty tough.”

Van Zyl was three under to the turn and went birdie-bogey-birdie at the start of his back nine with one further birdie in his last six holes.

America’s Bubba Watson finished with a one-under 71 after carding four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in his last 10 holes.

Compatriot Dustin Johnson, the pre-tournament favourite after his second place at the British Open on Sunday, signed for a one-over 73 after going to the turn in 38.