Dubai Desert Classic
Emirates Golf Club
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
26th February - 1st March 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £770,000

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Els hits top form but Karlsson still leads

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27th February 1998 - Robert Karlsson began his afternoon round four shots adrift of a rampant Ernie Els but helped by two back nine eagles he caught and passed the South African to hold the Desert Classic lead for the second successive day.

Els had shot a nine-under-par 63 in the morning, just two more than his course record in 1994 when he won the Dubai event, to move to 10-under-par 134.

When Karlsson, who had led the first round by a stroke, dropped a shot on the first it left him five behind.

But the Swede came alight after the turn to capture eagles on the 10th and 13th holes to surge to a 65 and 131 total.

It was also a good afternoon for Spain's Ignacio Garrido, playing alongside his 1997 Ryder Cup captain Severiano Ballesteros.

Despite Ballesteros getting a slow-play warning, which, said Garrido, caused them both to rush their closing holes, Garrido's second 67 put him in a share of second place with Els.

A dropped shot by Greg Norman at the 18th, his ninth, when he put his approach into the lake, cost the Australian a share of second place. Norman's 68 left him fourth on 135.

Ballesteros, who uncharacteristically shrugged off his warning, shot a flawless 68 to be in the group a further stroke back.

Also in the group on 136, was Jose Maria Olazabal, soldiering on despite again running a high temperature with pharyngitis.

European number one Colin Montgomerie has left himself much to do to catch Karlsson after a 69 took him to 139, eight strokes off the pace.

Karlsson, who won in 1995 after being tipped for stardom much earlier by several of his peers when he twice came close to winning at the start of his career, again went into decline before winning once more last year.

During his second slump the 28-year-old Swede sought help from a psychologist who advised him to "lighten up". That advice taken, Karlsson is now aware of what he has to do to win again and move up another rung in his career.

"I am less hard on myself now and that's meant I can be 100 per cent committed on my goals," said Karlsson.

"Playing well with guys like Ernie and Greg in opposition is what's going to bring me to the next level of my career."