Karlsson had to survive a late rally by Molinari

Robert Karlsson ended his two-year win drought with victory at the Mercedes Benz Championship in Germany on a good weekend for European Ryder Cup players.

The Swede's final round of 71 gave him a total score of -13, two shots ahead of Italy's Francesco Molinari.

Karlsson's Ryder Cup colleagues Miguel Angel Jimenez, Soren Hansen and Graeme McDowell were third, eighth and 16th.

At one stage, Karlsson was six shots clear before four birdies in a row by Molinari set up a tense finale.

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It was the eighth European Tour victory of his career.

"It's very nice to win, a great relief and it would have felt a bit strange not to win this season because I've been playing so well," said Karlsson afterwards.

"It got closer than necessary maybe but I felt there was not much more I could do. All credit to Francesco, he played fantastic the last eight or nine holes.

"I just tried to do my own thing but it's not easy when he is holing putts from 40ft, but in the end it was enough."

McDowell admitted it had been hard to concentrate on anything except the prospect of his Ryder Cup debut, but he felt confident about Europe's chances of victory at Valhalla next weekend.

"It's been in the forefront of my mind but I feel as though I am taking my game out there pretty much intact so there is nothing really to worry about," he said.

"All I am looking forward to right now is seeing my golf bag with my name on it. I've always dreamed of representing Europe in the Ryder Cup and here we go.

"I think it is going to be a pretty even match-up and we have the firepower to give them a good run and maybe bring the trophy home again."