Karlsson ends two-year winless run to win Mercedes

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Robert Karlsson moved to second on the money list.

PULHEIM, Germany (AP) -- Robert Karlsson shot a 1-under 71 Sunday to win the Mercedes Benz Championship by two strokes, putting an end to his two-year run without a victory.

The 39-year-old Swede finished at 13-under 275 for his first win since the 2006 Deutsche Bank Championship. He has had nine top-10 finishes this year, including three in the majors.

Karlsson's eighth career European title moved him from sixth to second place on the European tour's money order, behind Padraig Harrington of Ireland.

"It feels very nice to win, great relief to do it," Karlsson said. "It would be strange to finish without a title."

Francesco Molinari of Italy had four straight birdies on the back nine to finish with a 70 and second place.

Karlsson, a member of the European Ryder Cup team, led by three shots coming into the final round. He birdied his first hole, but bogeys at the third and fourth trimmed his lead to two shots and gave hope to the rest of the pack.

Karlsson recovered quickly with three consecutive birdies, stretching his lead to five strokes after seven holes.

But Molinari missed a short putt for birdie at the par-3 16th that would have cut the lead to one shot afteer Karlsson bogeyed the hole. Molinari also had a birdie attempt at the next hole that stopped just short.

"He played fantastic, but the 17th definitely gave me a little bit of a cushion," Karlsson said of Molinari's near miss.

Ryder Cup players Soren Hansen of Denmark, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland showed encouraging form ahead of the event that runs Friday through to next Sunday at Louisville.

Jimenez made six birdies in a 66 to total 279 for a share of third place with Ross Fisher of England (70) and Michael Campbell of New Zealand (70).

Hansen, last year's winner, had a 69 to finish equal eighth, while McDowell (71) ended with a share of 16th.

Former Masters champion Fred Couples (72) and two-time major winner John Daly (77) finished 16 and 20 shots behind Karlsson, respectively.

About 12,000 spectators attended the final round, giving the tournament a total of 41,000 fans.