Robert Karlsson wins the Dubai World Championship in a play-off
Robert Karlsson defeated Ian Poulter on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off at the Dubai World Championship on Sunday 28 November. Both players finished at 14-under after four rounds
of the season-ending event on the European Tour at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Poulter, the Englishman who won the Hong Kong Open last week, entered the final round with a two-shot lead over Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and Ross Fisher of England. But the 34-year-old,
who has 10 wins on tour, struggled on the front nine, carding a bogey and one lone birdie on his first nine holes. He righted the ship on the back nine with consecutive birdies at holes 12 and 13 but failed to make a birdie putt on the final green that would
have earned him the victory in regulation.
Karlsson was the first-round leader after an opening 65. And after a disappointing 75 in the second round,
two 67s over the weekend got him right back into it. On Sunday, the 41-year-old Swede got off to a blistering start with two birdies and an eagle in his first three holes. However, he followed it up with two bogeys over his next three holes, but recovered
on the back nine, carding three birdies and no bogeys. One of the biggest shots of the day was Karlsson’s approach to the 18th green, landing within a few feet of the hole to set up a birdie that would force the play-off.
After halving the first play-off hole, both players had birdie putts on the 18th green but a strange ruling resulted in a one-stroke penalty for Poulter. Leaning down to replace his ball,
he accidentally dropped it on his marker, causing it to flip over and move. When he alerted the match referee, Poulter was assessed a one-stroke penalty and was suddenly putting for par and not birdie. When he missed, all Karlsson had to do was two-putt for
his 11th tour victory and the $1.25 million first prize. He calmly sunk the birdie putt.
Lee Westwood’s chances at victory were washed away when he hit his approach shot into the water on the finishing hole. Alvaro Quirros missed an eagle putt on the 18th hole that would have
put him in the play-off. Both players finished T3 at 13-under, just one stroke behind the leaders.
Rory McIlroy finished alone in fifth-place at 12-under after a final round 67 while Paul Casey and Francesco Molinari finished one shot worse.
Martin Kaymer finished at six-under for the event to clinch the money title and the $1.5 million bonus that comes with it.
What they said
Poulter explained to reporters after the round what happened on the 18th green. "The coin was one way and the next minute facing the other way. It's pitched right on the front and flipped
over. If it pitches in the middle, the coin doesn't move and it's fine."
Karlsson described the win as the biggest of his career but expressed some empathy for Poulter. "These things happen in golf. It's not the way you want to win. The rules are there for
a reason but some of them can be tough."
But Poulter admitted to having fun all week despite his disappointing finish. "Looking at the board all the way around, Robert got off to an incredible start, birdie, birdie, eagle. Westy
made a late charge. It was good fun the whole way around."
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