Karlsson wins in Cologne

Robert Karlsson warmed up in perfect style for next week’s Ryder Cup with his first victory for two years, in the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Europe captain Nick Faldo had further reasons to celebrate too – with fellow team members Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen and Graeme McDowell third, eighth and 16th respectively.

Karlsson began the final day with a three-stroke lead, despite suffering a one-shot penalty after his third round yesterday, and carded a closing 71 at Gut Larchenhof.

That gave the 6ft 5in Swede a total of 13 under par and with a two-shot victory over Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

Karlsson had been six clear at one stage in the final round. But Molinari birdied four holes in a row from the 12th, and Karlsson bogeyed the 16th to see his lead cut to just two.

Molinari then left a birdie putt on the 17th agonisingly short of the hole and missed another birdie chance on the last as Karlsson held his nerve to claim the £270,000 (341,000) first prize.