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Swedes serve up a half

Karlsson sees putt for victory slide past at the last

Last updated: 21st September 2008

Stenson and Karlsson: Battled for a half

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Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson emerged with a half point following a see-saw fourball battle against Phil Mickelson and Hunter Mahan on Saturday.

The final match out on Saturday afternoon, the enthralling contest fittingly went down the last, before both sides emerged with a share of the spoils to leave Europe 9-7 down heading into Sunday's singles.

While Europe and their skipper Nick Faldo will be pleased to take something from the encounter, they could still look back on what might have been as Karlsson saw an eight-footer for victory drift just wide on 18.

The Swedish duo made a flying start as Stenson produced a tap-in birdie at the first to move ahead, but the Mickelson-inspired Americans came roaring back as Lefty made back-to-back birdies at two and three to seize the lead.

Revelling in his role, Mickelson then boomed two superlative shots down the par-five seventh to set up an eagle opportunity that he duly converted to extend the advantage.

The Swedes hung in but were forced to match birdies with birdies just to stay in touch with Mickelson and Mahan a combined seven-under through ten holes.

They finally made inroads into the lead at the 12th as Karlsson drained a seven-footer for birdie and when Stenson repeated the feet at 13 they were unexpectedly level, as Mahan cracked by missing from inside three feet for a half.

Matching birdies then followed at 14 and 15 as both holes were halved with Karlsson's putter running particularly hot.

The match looked to have taken a decisive turn at 17 as Mickelson put a superlative approach to five feet. Stenson saw his wonderful breaking birdie putt from 25 feet die just millimetres from the cup, but to the relief of European eyes Mickelson spurned a golden chance to edge his side ahead as he dragged his putt wide.

All square going down the last, Mahan left himself 15 feet for eagle, but having missed could only watch on as Karlsson stepped up for his chance to settle matters - but the Swede could not find the cup and the point was shared.