Swede hits the sweet spot

Robert Karlsson’s pitch perfect approach to the 18th hole on the final day of the season-ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World has won the Swede The European Tour Shot of the Month Award for November. Karlsson piled the pressure on leader Ian Poulter of England with a wedge to within two feet to set up a birdie chance, which he duly took to set the clubhouse target on 14 under par. After Poulter had finished on the same mark, Karlsson saw off the Englishman at the second extra hole to take the €910,349 first prize. Poulter took second place in the November Shot of the Month competition with his bunker shot during the final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions, with Karlsson also taking third place for his second shot to the third hole at the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, which tracked perfectly into the cup for an eagle. The Shot of the Month is awarded to the Tour Member for the stroke judged to be the best played each month on The European Tour International Schedule. The monthly winners in 2010 were Martin Kaymer of Germany (January and August), England’s Ian Poulter (February), Noh Seung-yul of Korea (March), Lee Westwood of England (April), England’s Luke Donald (May), Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland (June and October), Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain (July), Edoardo Molinari (September) and Karlsson (November). All were considered for The European Tour Shot of the Year, with the panel of golfing media selecting a top three of Ian Poulter’s chip at the WGC – Accenture Match Play in February, Martin Kaymer’s putt to get into a play-off for the US PGA Championship in August, and Graeme McDowell’s putt on the 16th hole on the final day of The Ryder Cup in October as the stand out shots.