GOLF WORLD CUP: ROBERT KARLSSON was delighted to join the host of greats who have won the coveted trophy after combining with Henrik Stenson to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden yesterday.
The duo had made a relatively low-key start to the tournament and went into the final round four strokes behind leaders Spain and Australia.
However, Stenson and Karlsson saved their best for last and were superb around the Olazabal course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China, carding a nine-under-par 63 in the tricky foursomes format.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal could only manage a two-under 70 to finish at 24-under-par 264 overall, three strokes behind Sweden.
Graeme McDowell and Paul McGinley struggled to a disappointing, five-over-par 77 to finish alone in 16th place on 10 under par, a full 17 shots behind the Swedes. They earned €50,000.
So the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner Karlsson and world number 12 Stenson join a lengthy list of famous pairings such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and David Duval, and Ireland's pairings of McGinley and Harrington and Christy O'Connor and Harry Bradshaw as World Cup winners.
"It means very much to win for the country," said Karlsson. "This has always been an event in Sweden that's been big. To play for your country is great.
"If you look on the trophy, there's many impressive pairings on there. I hope we can look back on it in the future and say the same about us playing here."
Stenson, meanwhile, had come close on two occasions, finishing second and third in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
It was also a first victory of the year for the 32-year-old, and the Dubai-based Swede was honoured to have won.
"We've had a great time all week," said Stenson. "We played fantastic today. I haven't had a win so far this year, and I have got one now, so I'm very pleased with that.
"It's a great honour to play for your country, and obviously even better when you win."
For Spain's Jimenez and Larrazabal it was a disappointing end to a tournament where they had looked well placed for victory heading into the weekend.
Much like Sweden yesterday, Spain were superb in foursomes in the second round as they shot a 63 to move four shots clear of the field.
However, they failed to build on that over the final two rounds and ultimately a bogey and only three birdies yesterday cost them a chance of success.
But 2008 European Tour Rookie of the Year Larrazabal was gracious in defeat, accepting the best team on the day won.
"We didn't play like we did in the first and second round, but it was still a good performance and a great tournament for us," said the 25-year-old.
"But you know, I wanted so bad to go home with the trophy, and I'm a little bit sad now. However, the best team today was Sweden so congratulations to them."
England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher finished strongly as a five-under-par 67 meant they claimed sixth place.
However, their resurgence came too late after disappointing scores in the first two rounds all but ended their chances of a World Cup victory.
"We could have run close but we had a bad day on Thursday and Friday," said Poulter.
FINAL SCORES
261- Sweden: Stenson/Karlsson 65 67 66 63
264- Spain: Jimenez/Larrazabal 64 63 67 70
270- Australia: Green/Jones 63 68 63 76, Japan: Imada/Taniguchi 66 68 68 68
272- Germany: Cejka/Kaymer 62 69 68 73
273- England: Poulter/Fisher 69 74 63 67
OTHER: 278- Ireland: McDowell/McGinley 65 68 68 77.
