Duo slug it out in Merit battle

Robert Karlsson and Lee Westwood’s head-to-head battle for the European Order of Merit title looked like being a thriller the way they started the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura today.

First and third on the money list with only the Volvo Masters to come for them - neither is playing next week – the pair birdied two of their first three holes to be only one off the lead.

Westwood, £277,000 (€354,700) behind, struck first with a five-footer on the 406-yard 10th after Karlsson had missed from six.

But the Swede, trying to emulate Tiger Woods by winning three Tour events in a row, sank a 40-foot putt at the next before both two-putted the long 12th to improve to two under.

Ahead of them were Welshman Phillip Price, Swede Martin Erlandsson, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and Portugal’s Antonio Sobrinho.

Miguel Angel Jimenez, fourth on the Order of Merit, was paired with Westwood and Karlsson and after making a six-footer for birdie on the 11th he did well to save par at the 547-yard next.

The Spanish star hooked his drive into the lake, but after taking a penalty drop found the green with his third shot.

Padraig Harrington, Karlsson’s closest challenger £112,000 (€143,400) behind, is not competing this or next week, having gone to Bermuda for the PGA Grand Slam.

For the second year running he lost a play-off, this time to Jim Furyk, in the four-man 36-hole event. It meant a cheque for £180,000 (€230,400) rather than £350,000 (€448,000).