Karlsson again shows he is no minor player in majors

By Larry Fine

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan (Reuters) - Robert Karlsson kept up his brilliant run of form in the majors by posting a two-under-par 68 in the U.S. PGA Championship opening round on Thursday.

The 38-year-old Swede rallied from a double-bogey at the first hole, where his approach shot bounced away on a cart path, with six birdies in the next 10 holes to tie Indian Jeev Milkha Singh for the early clubhouse lead at Oakland Hills.

Karlsson, at 6-foot-5 (1.96 metres) the tallest player on the European Tour, said he was more at ease with his game after years of experimentation.

"I'm very comfortable with life," said the only player with top-10 finishes to his name in each of the first three majors of the year.

"I was very nervous before about playing big events. I always had to prove myself, that I was good enough, and I don't feel that way at all this year," Karlsson told reporters.

VOLCANIC ASH

He had tried psychiatrists, gadgets, swing alterations, coaching changes and new diets including a few months of eating volcanic ash in the hope of reaching his potential.

This season Karlsson has tied for eighth place at the U.S. Masters, shared fourth spot in the U.S. Open and finished joint seventh at the British Open.