Robert
Karlsson holed a birdie putt amid the gloom of the 13th green to grab a share
of the three-way lead in the unfinished Belgian Open third round on Saturday.
The Swede, spurned by Europe's
Ryder Cup captain Mark James last month after missing automatic qualification
by one place, joined compatriot Per-Ulrik Johansson and Retief Goosen of South
Africa on eight-under-par, one ahead.
Defending champion Lee Westwood of Britain stormed into contention in the rain-hit
tournament when he finished off his second round with a 66 and then birdied three
holes out of four after the turn in the afternoon to move seven-under with two
holes to play.
Midway leader
Johansson holed an eagle putt as his last act of the day, and Goosen birdied after
being bunkered, both coming in from the 12th hole.
Karlsson would be delighted to clinch victory after his Brookline rejection. "It
would be great to win again and I suppose it could be taken that I'd be proving
a point," said Karlsson, who has been playing on the U.S. Tour since the team
was announced.
"But really,
even though I was disappointed not to be picked, I guess I wouldn't have picked
me or Coltart (James's other wild card with Jesper Parnevik). I would have gone
for Bernhard Langer.
"The
point I'm really looking to prove is to myself.
"I've
played the best golf of my career this year, had five top five finishes, four
in Europe and one in America, so I know I should already have sealed at least
one win."
