Karlsson put in shade by amateur namesake

The 22-year-old, making only his second appearance at a professional tournament, shot an impressive opening 67 at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club to earn a share of the first-round lead.

Karlsson’s five-under total put him level with compatriot Alexander Noren and South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl.

After an indifferent start the professional Karlsson birdied three of his last 10 holes but by then he knew his namesake would be the one taking the headlines.

“That was a great start to the tournament, obviously,” said the amateur Karlsson, who only booked his entry into the event earlier this week.

“Ever since I qualified on Monday I’ve been trying to really enjoy this experience. It’s hard not to smile.”

Having picked up just one stroke in his first five holes, at the 432-yard third, the amateur Karlsson carded five birdies between the sixth and 13th.

A double-bogey at the short 17th in increasingly wet conditions dropped him back to four under but he bounced back with a birdie at the last.

The other Robert Karlsson, Ryder Cup star and 41-year-old 11-time European Tour winner, was level par after eight holes after a birdie at the third was immediately handed back at the par-three fourth.

Three birdies from the ninth improved his situation to be only two behind the leaders, in a share of eighth place alongside Hull’s Richard Finch.

Harrogate’s John Parry went one better to share joint fourth alongside Niklas Lemke and Spain’s Alfredo Garcia-Heredia and Italy’s Lorenzo Gagli.

American Dustin Johnson, the pre-tournament favourite after his second place at the Open on Sunday, signed for a one-over 73 after going to the turn in 38.

A bogey at the 18th hole cost Ireland’s Mark McNulty the overall lead on day one of the Senior Open Championship at Walton Heath.

The five was the only blot on McNulty’s scorecard, leaving him with a four-under-par 68, level with Australian Mike Harwood and American Mark Calcavecchia.

Harwood actually finished in worse fashion than McNulty, bogeying the 16th and 17th.

Ian Woosnam went round in 71 to stay in contention, on the same mark as American one-time Open champion Tom Lehman.