The Zen Swede
Behaviour focus the key for Karlsson
Last updated: 10th May 2008
Karlsson: focuses
Robert Karlsson is a guy who does not like surprises. He wants to make a schedule and that schedule is then set in stone and it does not change.
Simon Holmes
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Robert Karlsson's former coach Simon Holmes told Golf Night that the Swede was like a Zen master.
Karlsson scored a brilliant round of 61 at the Italian Open on day two after opting not to play at The Players Championship at Sawgrass, in Florida.
Karlsson admitted that the Ryder Cup points that would come by playing in the Italian Open were a bonus, but revealed he only pulled out of Sawgrass for scheduling reasons.
With his ranking floating around the 50 mark, Karlsson decided to commit to the tournament he knew he would definitely get into so that he could prepare and Holmes revealed that that was typical of the man.
"He's been one of those guys who's had years when he's really been in the top 50 and he's had a lot of years where he's just floated about and then you don't know what your schedule is", he said.
"And Robert Karlsson is a guy who does not like surprises. He wants to make a schedule and that schedule is then set in stone and it does not change.
"That makes him feel comfortable because he's in control of that, surprises disturb him, he's a sensitive sort of chap to those things.
"As far as results go he is so focused now on behaviour, he's been as deep, as any player I know into his own psyche in trying to find his triggers to get positive things and to learn the things that give him negative feelings and understand that.
"He's a very calm sophisticated sort of guy. He's the Zen Swede."
A win for Karlsson at the Italian open would earn him some vital Ryder Cup and world ranking points, but Holmes was adamant that the player's only motivation was his preparation.
"He knows he cannot perform if he is focused on the results, he has to focus on the behaviour. And the funny thing is that if he wins this tournament he will earn as many world ranking points, as finishing fourth in The Players."
