TOUR NEWS:ROBERT KARLSSON faces a tricky balancing act at the Dunhill Links Championship, being competitive on the one hand and, on the other, not risking a return of the eye problem that has dogged him for months.
Karlsson, who capped his 2008 European order of merit victory with this title last year, will be playing his first individual tournament in four months after appearing on the losing Continental Europe team in last week’s Seve Trophy.
The 40-year-old Swede knows the pressure of a competitive environment could trigger the career-threatening retinal problems that have troubled him since late May.
“Winning is stressful and I’m told that was the root of my problem,” Karlsson said yesterday.
“But I did enjoy last year very, very much. I know it’s about not putting too much pressure on myself, but that is easier said than done. It’s a balance I have to find between going out and doing too much and being successful. It’s up to me to find that balance now.
“I have a short-term goal at the moment: to make Dubai (Dubai World Championship). I need to have a couple of good weeks. It’s more important for me to start enjoying it (tournament play), build on where I am now but make sure I don’t bring this on again.”
Karlsson, who lies 89th on the Race to Dubai, with only the top 60 to feature in the season-ending World Championship, may have plenty of opportunity this week to gauge how much lost ground he needs to make up.
Three players trying to oust the absent Martin Kaymer from the top of the money-list – Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher – are in the tournament being staged at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns courses.
Three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington, twice a winner of the event, has returned from a successful two months in America looking for his first win of the year to make a late bid to be European number one for a second time.
“I’ve got five events left to give myself a chance,” said Harrington.
“I probably need to win two and a few other things to go right, but that would be the goal at the moment.”
Harrington is over €1 million behind leader Kaymer but could almost half that by winning this week.
Kaymer is powerless to do anything about that because he is recovering from surgery on broken toes suffered in a go-kart accident, and second-placed Paul Casey is out of action too with a rib muscle injury.
McIlroy, who finished third in the 2007 edition of the tournament to earn his tour card not long after turning professional, can go top even if he finishes second in Scotland.
Harrington, however, has the memories of triumphing at St Andrews in 2002 and 2006 – the year he went on to capture the Order of Merit – and, with JP McManus as his partner again in the pro-celebrity format, he said: “This is one of my favourite tournaments of the year.
“Obviously it’s one of my best opportunities of winning an event – not often do we get to play links golf and I think the set-up really suits me well.”
Swing changes finally seem to be paying off, but he has not tasted victory this season yet apart from the Irish PGA Championship, and he says: “When we get into 2010 the only thing that will be looked back on is how many wins you had in 2009.
“Even though I can be comfortable with what’s happened I’ve got to make some wins in order to make this in any way a good year.
“But it was very, very productive and I would think it will make me a better player. There’s some sacrifices in it, but I definitely think it’s been worth it.”
McIlroy, meanwhile, is considering playing on the US PGA Tour next season.
“I was looking at the schedule this morning,” the 20-year-old said yesterday.
“The way the schedule is, it makes it a little bit easier for me to play in America next year. I’m in no great rush to join the US PGA Tour but the opportunity might not be there forever.
“There’s no rush all round because I have to make my decision before December 1st. I’ll be making it before then.”
The young Ulsterman, who would have to commit to 15 US Tour tournaments, could earn a card automatically through winnings earned in 2009 US Tour events. He was third in the US PGA Championship and fifth in the Matchplay World Golf Championship.
McIlroy plays with his father, Gerry, in the pro-am format event.
“It’s a big deal for me this week and the Race to Dubai will be in the back of my mind all week, but first and foremost I’ve got to get my dad round,” added McIlroy.
Dunhill Links
Format: Pro-am for first three days over three courses. Final round at St Andrews for 60 professionals (plus ties) who make the cut and top 20 amateurs.
Courses: St Andrews 7,279 yards, Carnoustie 7,412 yards and Kingsbarns 7,160 yards.
Prizemoney: €3.4 million, €530,000 for the winner
Field: 168.
Defending champion: Robert Karlsson beat Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher in play-off.
On TV: Live on Sky every day (1.30pm today).
Weather: A little rain and wind.
Selected pairings
CARNOUSTIE
10:28 - David Howell and Hugh Grant;
Paul McGinley and Kyle MacLachlan
10:39 - Lee Westwood and Andrew Chandler;
Darren Clarke and Abdullah al Naboodah.
11:01 - Pablo Larrazábal and Gustavo Larrazábal;
Rory McIlroy and Gerry McIlroy
11:12 - Colin Montgomerie and Tim Henman;
Marc Warren and Matthew Pinsent
11:23 - Pádraig Harrington and JP McManus;
Robert Karlsson and Dermot Desmond
KINGSBARNS
09:00 - Alessandro Tadini and Franz Klammer;
Alexander Noren and Marco Van Basten
09:11 - Graeme Storm and Ronan Keating;
Gary Murphy and Aidan Quinn
