ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Robert Karlsson of Sweden won the Dunhill Links Championship with a birdie on the first hole of a three-man playoff on Sunday at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Karlsson and Ross Fisher had 7-under 65s and overnight leader Martin Kaymer shot a 68 to tie the others at 10-under 278 in the big European Tour event whose pro-celebrity format is similar to that of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the PGA Tour.

In the playoff, Fisher drove into the Swilcan Burn, the stream that fronts the first hole on the Old Course, and made a bogey. Kaymer then missed a 10-foot birdie putt before Karlsson made a three-footer for the victory.

The Swede earned $800,000 for his second win of the year and passed Padraig Harrington for the lead in the Order of Merit. Karlsson won the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Germany the week before last month's Ryder Cup, and finished second twice and third three times earlier this season.

"I wasn't thinking about the Order, but no question Padraig has had the better year," Karlsson said. "He has won two majors."

Harrington, who won the Dunhill Links in 2002 and '06, won the British Open and the PGA Championship this year.

Kaymer missed birdie chances from four feet at No. 17 and eight feet No. 18 that would have given him his third victory this year.

"It's disappointing after missing those chances, but it has been a really good week for me," the 23-year-old German said.

Jarmo Sandelin, who was tied with Kaymer overnight, shot a 70 and finished fourth at 280. Harrington, who started out the day tied for fourth, dropped into a tie for 13th with a 71 after two bogeys on the first four holes and another at the 17th. He also made four birdies.

"I started with some really bad shots and struggled. Then after a few birdies it all fell apart," said Harrington, who complained of fatigue this week. "I just wasn't prepared. It's hard to get away with it on a Sunday when you are not prepared right."

The are four events remaining on the European schedule. Karlsson will play the Portugal Masters in two weeks and the Volvo Masters in Valderrama, Spain, two weeks after that, while Harrington just plans to play in Valderrama.

Karlsson, who made par-saving putts of 10 and 12 feet on the 16th and 17th holes, said winning the Order of Merit was not one of his ambitions.

"I've already exceeded my expectations for the season. I've made the Ryder Cup team, won twice, had five other top-threes," he said. "What more can I expect?"

Until his victory in Cologne, Karlsson had gone two years without a victory but qualified for his second Ryder Cup on the back of nine top-10 finishes this season -- including eighth in the Masters, fourth in the U.S. Open and seventh in the British Open.

"I felt at ease today after getting that win under my belt and felt very comfortable going out there in the playoff," said the 39-year-old. "I've birdied that hole three times in a row now and I just fancied my chances when I got that yardage.

"It's a relaxing event and you just want to go out there and have fun and enjoy it, although I wouldn't have said that yesterday," he added. "I was a bad boy a couple of times during my 76 at Carnoustie!"

On a day of low scoring in benign conditions on the Old Course, Karlsson and Fisher set the clubhouse target after matching rounds of 65.

Kaymer held a one-shot lead on the 17th tee but bogeyed the famous Road Hole after coming up short of the green, and then missed a birdie putt for the title from eight feet on the 18th.

The 23-year-old German then also missed from 12ft for birdie on the first extra hole -- after Fisher's hopes disappeared when he drove into the Swilcan Burn -- but Karlsson made no mistake after a superb approach to three feet.

"It's disappointing, especially after having chances on the last two holes to win, but overall it was a really good week for me," said Kaymer, who has won twice this season, including on home soil just two weeks after his mother died of cancer. "It has been a very special week to play with my brother and father in the team event."

Harrington began the day just two off the lead but could only manage a closing 71 and again pointed to fatigue as the reason behind his sub-par recent performances.

The 37-year-old, who won just half a point for the second Ryder Cup in succession at Valhalla, said: "It's hard to get away with it on a Sunday when you are not prepared right. I know myself I'm not on top of my game.

"I'll have a battle on my hands for the Order of Merit for sure. It's in Robert's hands now."

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