Karlsson on track for win

Robert Karlsson today remained on course to win his first tournament for two years and complete the perfect preparation for the Ryder Cup in the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Karlsson has not won since claiming the Deutsche Bank Championship in Hamburg in 2006 but qualified for his second cup appearance next week on the back of nine top-10 finishes this season – including eighth in the US Masters, fourth in the US Open and seventh in the Open.

The 6ft 5in Swede had a great chance to break that winless streak, after taking a one-shot lead into today’s third round of the £1.6m limited-field event at Gut Larchenhof.

The 39-year-old found himself five shots clear of the field with just five holes to play on a damp, overcast afternoon in Cologne.

Karlsson birdied the first, third and fourth – and despite a bogey on the second, that was good enough to take him three clear of the chasing pack at the turn.

A brilliant approach to the par-three 11th, which pitched just inches past the hole and span back to within three feet, set up another birdie – and his fifth of the day arrived with two putts on the par-five 13th.

At 12 under par, Karlsson looked in complete command – with four players sharing second on seven under, including England’s Ross Fisher and playing partner Jean-Francois Lucquin. The Frenchman is seeking back-to-back victories after claiming his maiden European Tour title in Switzerland on Sunday.

Lucquin had recovered well from a double bogey on the fifth when he pulled his approach into the water guarding the left of the green, hitting back with birdies on the seventh and 13th.

Fisher, who won the European Open by seven shots at the start of July, was four under for his round after three birdies and an eagle on the 13th.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell, without a strokeplay win since his shock triumph at Pinehurst in 2005, was also seven under after five birdies and a bogey in his first 13 holes.