One of the most remarkable 24 hours of Robert Karlsson's life ended with him setting a new Wentworth course record with a dazzling 62. The Swede, 40, flew home to Monte Carlo yesterday thinking he had missed the halfway cut at the PGA Championship on three over par. He was "a par five" from his house when he discovered things had changed, so returned immediately to Nice airport. On arrival, though, there were no seats left on any direct flight back to London, so he instead flew to Paris Orly and hired a private jet for around £7,600 (Dh40,376). After a few hours' sleep, that took off at 6am (8am UAE) and, with the hour's time difference, he was back at Wentworth at 6.45am and teed off two hours later. Nine birdies later he was, incredibly, tied for the lead with England's Luke Donald, who had yet to tee off for his third round. He began the day joint 63rd. Karlsson, furious after ending his second day's work with a double bogey seven on the controversial new 18th, this time holed a 12-footer there and was all smiles. "Do you want the short or long version?" he asked when requested to go through what had happened. "I've been in this position a few times and know it's important to keep going. I said 'we've got invited to this party, so let's party'. "Don't touch my putter ? you might burn your hands. "It was important to get off to a good start (he had a hat-trick of birdies from the second) and the most important thing is not to back off and protect it." Karlsson's journey was the most adventurous, but he rightly pointed out: "I was not the only one who went home." Scot Alastair Forsyth had returned to Glasgow assuming he was out as well, but flew back and after a birdie at the third and eagle on the next it looked as if he might charge through the field as well. But in the end Forsyth had to settle for a level par 71 and remained three over. Lee Westwood, two over overnight, dropped back to four over with a disappointing 73 and his stay at world No 3 ? his highest position ? seems certain to be for one week only. He needed a top-11 finish to keep ahead of American Steve Stricker and had dropped to 58th. Karlsson could now become the first player ever to win a European Tour event after making the cut with nothing to spare. That was something Rory McIlroy did in America earlier this month, but the Ulsterman, 21, remained deep in the pack today at level par with six holes remaining. Alongside him was the European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie, who came back from a double bogey at the third with birdies on the sixth and seventh, while Justin Rose's hopes of climbing back into the world's top 50 in time to qualify for the Open and US Open suffered further blows as he slipped back to two over. Rose needs a top-three finish, but was in a tie for 46th. * PA
