- STOCKHOLM: Amateur golfer Robert Karlsson shared the top on the leaderboard with fellow Swede Alexander Noren and South African Jaco Van Zyl after they shot 5-under 67s in Thursday’s first round of the Nordea Masters.
The 22-year-old Karlsson, one of only three amateurs in the tournament, collected seven birdies and one double-bogey on the 7,603-yard (6,952-meter) Bro Hof Slott course — the longest on the 2011 European Tour.
Dustin Johnson, who shared second place in the British Open on Sunday, finished in a group of players with a 1-over 73, while fellow American Bubba Watson, ranked 14th, had a 1-under 71.
The tournament changed its name to Nordea Masters from Scandinavian Nordea Masters this year.