AFP, COLOGNE, Germany
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson warmed up for next week’s Ryder Cup with a two-shot victory in the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Sunday to earn his eighth career European Tour title.
The Swede finished with a four-round total of 275, two ahead of Italy’s Francesco Molinari and four in front of New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, England’s Ross Fisher and Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain.
PHOTO: AP
Karlsson, who will line-up for Europe against the US in the Ryder Cup from Friday, had led from the second round but endured a nervous finish as he tried to earn his first tour title for two years.
He eventually carded a closing 71 for a total of 13 under par.
Karlsson had been six clear at one stage but Molinari birdied four holes in a row from the 12th and Karlsson bogeyed the 16th to see his lead cut to just two.
PHOTO: AFP
However, Molinari then fluffed two birdie putts on the last two holes as Karlsson held on.
“I really appreciate just playing this golf course. It’s in great condition, and today it was a bit windy as well so, it was a bit trickier, so it was good,” said Karlsson who is now second on the Order of Merit.
“Hopefully [Ryder Cup captain] Nick Faldo will be delighted. It was a pretty good result for all of us.”
Ryder Cup teammates Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen and Graeme McDowell finished third, eighth and 16th respectively.
Jimenez’s final round of 66 was the best of the day.
“I’m playing very solid, especially yesterday and today I holed some more putts and it’s a nice combination. I feel good and feel like I can make a score and that’s a very good feeling,” said the 44-year-old Spaniard.
Karlsson had not won since the Deutsche Bank Championship, also in Germany, in 2006, but qualified for his second Ryder Cup on the back of nine top 10 finishes this season — including eighth in the US Masters, fourth in the US Open Championship and seventh in the Open Championship.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
Sergio Ramos on Tuesday outfoxed two Inter players and artfully headed home the first goal for Monterrey at the FIFA Club World Cup. The 39-year-old Ramos slipped through the penalty area for the score just as he did for so many years in the shirts of Real Madrid and Spain’s national team, with whom he combined smarts, timing and physicality. Ramos’ clever goal and his overall defensive play at the Rose Bowl were major factors in Monterrey’s impressive 1-1 draw against the UEFA Champions League finalists in the clubs’ first match of the tournament. “There is always a joy to contribute to the
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani on Monday wobbled through a 28-pitch first inning at home against the San Diego Padres in his first appearance on the mound since August 2023. Scheduled to throw as many as two innings, Ohtani went a single frame while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue a walk nor strike out a batter. “Not quite happy with the results overall, but the takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to make the next outing,” Ohtani said of his pitching performance. Ohtani still wound up with a positive impact
RSS