Golf-Karlsson faces tough balancing act at St Andrews (Reuters)
September 30, 2009
By Norman Dabell
ST ANDREWS, Scotland, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Robert Karlssonfaces a tricky balancing act at the Dunhill Links Championship,being competitive on the one hand and not risking a return ofthe eye problem that has dogged him for months on the other.
Karlsson, who capped his 2008 European order of meritvictory with the title here last year, will be playing his firstindividual tournament in four months on Thursday after appearingon the losing Continental Europe team in last week’s SeveTrophy.
The 40-year-old Swede knows the pressure of a competitiveenvironment could trigger the career-threatening retinalproblems that have troubled him since late May.
“Winning is stressful and I’m told that was the root of myproblem,” Karlsson told reporters on Wednesday. “But I did enjoylast year very, very much.
“I know it’s about not putting too much pressure on myselfbut that is easier said than done. It’s a balance I have to findbetween going out and doing too much and being successful. It’sup to me to find that balance now.
“I have a short-term goal at the moment: to make Dubai(Dubai World Championship). I need to have a couple of goodweeks. It’s more important for me to start enjoying it(tournament play), build on where I am now but make sure I don’tbring this on again.”
Karlsson, who lies 89th on the Race to Dubai, with only thetop 60 to feature in the season-ending World Championship, mayhave plenty of opportunity this week to gauge how much lostground he needs to make up.
Three players trying to oust the absent Martin Kaymer fromthe top of the money-list—Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood and RossFisher—are in the tournament being staged at St Andrews,Carnoustie and Kingsbarns courses.
Three-times major champion Padraig Harrington, twice awinner of the event, has returned from a successful two monthsin America, looking for his first win of the year to make a latebid to be European number one for a second time.
(Editing by Miles Evans; To query or comment on this storyemailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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