Former European Number One Robert Karlsson was relieved to make the weekend in his 500th European Tour event at the BMW PGA Championship and delighted to become the first Swede to reach the milestone.
Karlsson, who battled to a round of 70 in testing conditions at Wentworth Club for a level par aggregate total at the midway stage of The European Tour’s flagship event, became only the sixth player from Continental Europe – and the 26th overall – to make 500 appearances on the Tour.
The 44 year old has amassed €14,820,392 in official earnings and collected 11 European Tour titles in a professional career which began in 1989.
“I finished 15th in my first event,” he recalled. “I think I won about £3,500 – I don’t think you can even get that prize money now if you make the cut, so things have changed a bit!
“I remember after about five events on the Tour, the Swedes went out for dinner and Mats Lanner said, ‘It’s my tenth year on Tour.’ I can remember thinking I could never see myself doing ten years out here – and here I am 24 years and 500 events later.”
Karlsson’s annus mirabilis came in 2008, when he won twice and recorded a further ten top ten finishes en route to becoming the first Swede to top The European Tour’s Money List.
He said: “That year was fantastic. I finished Number One and won the World Cup with Henrik, so it doesn’t get much better than that.”
Karlsson also featured in two Ryder Cups, helping Europe to a record-equalling 18½-9½ victory under Ian Woosnam’s captaincy in 2006 before experiencing defeat at Valhalla two years later.
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “Robert has been a great supporter of The European Tour down the years, and it is entirely appropriate that he should reach this landmark at Wentworth, where he became the first player in PGA Championship history to record a round of 62 four years ago.
“I would like to congratulate Robert on behalf of the whole of The European Tour, and we hope to see him enjoy much more success in the future.”
