Thrilling climax to Alfred Dunhill Links Championship

Sweden's Robert Karlsson on the Swilken Bridge with the handsome Alfred Dunhill Links championship trophy (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images).

Karlsson beats Kaymer and Fisher
in play-off at St Andrews

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson birdied the first extra hole of a sudden death play-off against England’s Ross Fisher and Germany’s Martin Kaymer to win a thrilling Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the Old Course at St Andrews today.
Karlsson celebrated his second victory in succesive tournaments after hitting his wedge to three feet on the first hole of the Old Course and rolling in the putt, while Kaymer missed his eight foot birdie chance and Fisher hit an enormous drive - straight into the Swilken Burn.
Karlsson, Fisher and Kaymer all finished on a 10-under-par total of 278 on a day of stunning scoring on the Old Course as the wind of the previous three days dropped and a bright sun encouraged an abundance of birdies.
Karlsson produced one of the biggest improvements, trading a 76 at Carnoustie on Saturday for his brilliant 65 in the final round at St Andrews. The victory with its first prize of US$800,000 (£432,000) takes Karlsson to the top of the European Order of Merit.
He said: “I was very emotional sitting on the steps there for the prize-giving. The Old Course is the sort of course you learn to fall in love with. The more you play it, the more you understand it. I had a pretty good feeling for the play-off hole. It was a 3-wood and a wedge – perfect for me.
"The good thing was that it was slightly downwind so I knew I was going to get into my best range, about 100 yards, for my second shot. It was a funny week, coming from four shots behind and with so many guys up there ahead of me. You should have seen me at Carnoustie on Saturday. I played some bad holes. I just went out there today and tried to do my best.
"I got off to a really good start and all of a sudden I was up there on the leaderboard and I just tried to keep it going. It’s amazing that I have won it. I don’t know how I’ve done it.”
Ross Fisher had also hauled himself back into contention with a splendid seven-under-par 65 which featured an outward nine of 31 and an eagle 3 at the 14th hole where he chipped in. He said: “I think the Old Course was there for the taking today. I played it Friday and it was pretty brutal, a 40-50mph wind, so we knew the forecast was going to be more generous for us today.
"I just wanted to put in a good performance. I got off to a great start, then came the eagle which was massive. I knew my birdie putt on the 18th might be to win. It was a little left-to-right and I left it in the jaws. It was a shame, but I can’t be too disappointed.”
With two holes to go, victory had seemed to be in the grasp of 23-year-old Kaymer, who would have been the youngest winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He had birdied the 16th hole to go one ahead of Karlsson and Fisher, but he immediately gave the shot back at the infamous (17th) Road Hole where his second finished short of the green and he failed to get down in two.
A birdie at the 18th hole would also have given him victory, but he could only manage a par 4. It was a disappointing end to what had been an emotional week for Kaymer, who had been playing in the team championship with his brother Philip, whose caddie for the week was their father Horst.
Kaymer’s mother died from cancer in July, only days after his victory on home soil in the BMW International in Munich and the time in Scotland has been an opportunity for family bonding. Kaymer said: “I was disappointed after having chances on the last two holes to win the tournament, but I think overall it was a really good week for me. I was really close to winning and it gives me a lot of pleasure. It was very special to play with my brother and father. It was a nice week for us all.”
The enthusiastic St Andrews galleries were all expecting a charge from two-time winner Padraig Harrington, who famously came from behind this year to win the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the US PGA title at Oakland Hills, but it never materialised.
Two behind as he teed off, the Irishman started with two bogeys in the first four holes, and, although he managed three birdies around the turn, he could never get himself into contention. He said: “It was an anti-climax for me. I started off with some really bad shots and struggled, then I made a few birdies but it all fell apart. I wasn’t playing well enough or confident enough. It’s hard to get away with it on a Sunday when you are not prepared right.”
The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses - the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.
Joining the professionals were an enthusiastic group of talented amateur golfers.
The team championship too provided a thrilling climax. England’s John Bickerton and South African Bruce Watson had taken a five-shot lead into the final round, but they had to fend off a determined challenge by Robert Karlsson and Dermot Desmond, the highlight of which was a 2 by the Irish businessman at the short 11th hole for a net one.
Eventually, however, Bickerton and Watson held on for a better-ball 66, compared to Karlsson and Desmond’s 60 to win by one shot on 27-under-par.
South African businessman Watson, who lives in Johannesburg and is a member of the River Club and Leopard Creek, only knew for sure he had a place in the championship last Thursday. He said: “I was in London on business so cancelled all my appointments this week and jumped on a plane to Scotland. So I’ve gone from not knowing I was in it to winning it.
“It’s quite unbelievable and I want to pay tribute to my partner, John Bickerton, who was absolutely the best partner I could have hoped for. He is a true gentleman and he has helped me to get through the event with his advice. He has even been lining up putts for me.
"When he comes to play in South Africa in December, we will definitely meet up and I will have the chance to entertain John and his new wife - they married only last Saturday.
"The gross 75 I shot at Carnoustie on the first day, was the round of my life. I think that coming into this tournament, for the first time, at such short notice was actually a good thing. It was all so hectic that I had no time for nerves. If I’d known for months that I was going to play I think I would have been far more nervous.”
Although they could not quite make up the gap, Sir Ian Botham and his partner David Howell chased the leaders all the way, finishing on 22-under-par. Sir Ian said: “I am absolutely delighted to finish so high in the team event. David and I had a 63 today and although we didn’t win it still feels good to have played well and as ever I have really enjoyed the tournament.
"I used to play with my good friend Ian Woosnam, but now to have the privilege of having David as my new partner was fantastic. He’s a great player, a lovely bloke and tremendous company.” Every day Sir Ian has worn plus twos and long socks, in various striking colours, although today they were grey. He joked: “Actually, as Woosie wasn’t here this time, I decided that it was only right to wear his trousers instead. I’ve had a lot of complimentary comments about them.”