Karlsson in control at Hong Kong Open

2007-11-17

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By Andrew Mullen Special to PA SportsTicker

HONG KONG (Ticker) - Sweden's Robert Karlsson has finally found a way to master the Fanling course and is now fully focused on winning the UBS Hong Kong Open title.

The 38-year-old finished second at last month's Portugal Masters but is on course to go one better this weekend after maintaining his four-stroke lead over former Hong Kong champion Miguel Angel Jimenez on Saturday.

A Ryder Cup star, Karlsson posted a 4-under-par 66 in the third round, moving to 16-under 194 overall. His round included his first and only dropped shot over 54 holes.

Karlsson was tied for third after opening with a bogey-free 64 and, after repeating that feat on Friday, he has put himself in pole position to follow up his victories at The Celtic Manor Wales Open and Deutsche Bank Players Championship of Europe last year.

"I am not really looking at where I am; I am looking at my game and that is it. It doesn't matter where other people are," he said.

"If I start looking at the leaderboard or getting into a match play situation with other players it would be totally shifting my focus, which would not be a good idea. You can't play match play against 65 other guys any way. This is a big trap to fall into with a lead like this."

Karlsson missed the cut here in 2005 and opted out of last year's event after struggling around the tight, short course but after heading out to the Far East to play in next week's World Cup at Mission Hills he is reaping the rewards of a new conservative approach.

Karlsson nailed three birdie putts within 10 feet in his opening four holes before quickly adding another at the par-4 sixth.

He reached the turn in 31 after three-putting the ninth to drop his first shot before collecting his only birdie on the back nine, a 12-footer after an expert 9-iron approach.

"You would take a four-stroke lead on any course but it is definitely a tricky course to try to pick up a lot of shots," he added.

"But at the same time there are low scores out there and so for me tomorrow it is all about focusing on putting another low score together. If someone beats me then I can't do anything about that but my focus is on another good solid round."

Jimenez, who matched his playing partner's 66, is stroke in front of Marcus Fraser, first-round leader K.J. Choi, Peter Hanson and India's Shiv Kapur.

Choi, a two time-winner on last season's PGA Tour, bounced back from his second round struggles - when his 72 was 10 worse than his opening round - to remain in contention to become the first Asian winner of the Hong Kong Open in nine years.

"It was a lot better than yesterday's round. I was very comfortable out there," he said.

"The third round is all about getting into position for the final round and I think I've done that, so I'm very pleased."