Monday, June 5 2006 16:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Newport: Sweden's Robert Karlsson claimed the Wales Open on Sunday to move into an automatic Ryder Cup qualification position.

The 36-year-old saw his six-shot overnight lead gradually whittled away but he survived a mid-round slump to win by three shots from England's Paul Broadhurst. Karlsson shot a two over par 71 to claim the £250,000 ($470,000) first prize and a sixth European Tour title.

Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima shot a stunning 64 on the last round to snatch third place ahead of Scotland's Colin Montgomerie whose final round 67 was enough for fourth.

Wales's Bradley Dredge finished joint seventh after a final round 64.

Monaco-based Karlsson earned 364,352 points to move into ninth place in the Ryder Cup standings but a run of four bogeys in nine holes had him sweating.

The 6ft 5in Swede regained his composure to birdie three of the next four and eventually finished on a 16-under-par total of 260 on the shortest course used on the European Tour.

Karlsson is now hopeful he can finally make the Ryder Cup team after agonisingly missing out in 1999.

"It was heartbreaking when it happened," he said.

"I'm in a privileged position to play golf for a living but I was not enjoying life on tour, I questioned whether I should keep doing it or pack it in," he said.

"So in 2003 I started seeing a life coach, a Swedish woman named Ann Christene Lundstrom, and I'm a lot happier now in my relationships with everyone, from my family to my caddie," he said.

"The Ryder Cup would be a fantastic bonus but something which is a by-product of playing well," he said.

"There are so many good players outside the team trying to get in and I'll probably need to win again to make it," he said.