ST ANDREWS, Scotland: Robert Karlsson won his second successive European Tour event as the Swede held his nerve to claim the Dunhill Links Championship in a play-off here on Sunday.

Karlsson birdied the first play-off hole at St Andrews to pip Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher after the trio had finished tied on 10 under par. The 432,000 pounds first prize takes Karlsson ahead of double major winner Padraig Harrington in the Order of Merit with just four events of the season remaining.

Karlsson, who won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany the week before the Ryder Cup, plans to play one more event before the season-ending Volvo Masters but Harrington will only compete at Valderrama.

Karlsson shot 65 at The Old Course on Sunday to finish with a ten under par total of 278 to take the tournament into a play-off. He got off to a flying start with three birdies in his first four holes and then picked up shots at the seventh, tenth, 11th and 14th to leap frog Lee Westwood and Harrington at the top of European standings.

Fisher played the front nine of The Old Course in a five under 31, the Englishman posting five birdies before reaching the turn. He picked up a shot at the par four second, and another birdie came at the 480 yard fourth with another coming at the par five fifth. Back to back birdies at the eight and ninth completed a flawless front nine.