Robert Karlsson vaults in to lead with record round

Swede Robert Karlsson broke the Tolcinasco course record with an 11-under 61 to surge into the lead at the halfway stage of the Italian Open on Friday.

Confusion over his qualification for Sawgrass meant Karlsson had decided to stick to his schedule of playing in Italy rather than travel to the United States for the Players’ Championship.

A scintillating two-eagle, eight-birdie return showed the world number 48 might reap richer dividends in Europe this week.

His card, also containing 12 threes, hauled him through the field to sit two strokes in front of South African Hennie Otto and Britain’s Mark Foster, who both shot 66.

Argentine Estanislao Goya (67), the current lower-rated European Challenge Tour money-list leader, and Dane Anders Hansen (65) are two strokes further back.

The overnight joint leader Marco Ruiz of Paraguay (70) is in a large group at 10-under.

Karlsson admitted the so far unattained 59 on the European Tour had “crossed my mind” but the 2006 Ryder Cup player was still delighted to equal his career-best return which gives him a chance of an eighth title.

“I was never really sure I would make Sawgrass and I thought if I could play well here it would be for the best,” Karlsson told reporters.

“I’m in Ireland next week, so it’s really good for travelling and maybe it’s worked out for the best.”

Karlsson, who had to wait seven years for his chance to play against the U.S. after narrowly missing out on the 1999 Ryder Cup team, has every chance of moving up Europe’s (combined) Cup table from his current eighth position.

Even though he feels he is playing the best golf of his life, though, the Monte Carlo-based Swede is determined not to set either Nick Faldo’s Valhalla team as a goal or winning a first major.

“I’ve found out you definitely can’t chase results,” said Karlsson. “So I’m focusing on improving all the time.

“The Ryder Cup or a major will then take care of itself.”

It is the second successive week that the tour’s third-best under par opening two-round score has been achieved, following Ignacio Garrido’s 15-under aggregate in last week’s Spanish Open.

Britain’s Oliver Wilson is on nine-under after using a wedge to putt for nine holes, during which he picked up three birdies. The Englishman with six second places to his name, including two this year, bent his putter by rapping it on his bag in a mild show of petulance.

Twice major champion John Daly (73) qualified for the final two rounds, right on the cut-off of four-under.