Big-hitting Alvaro Quiros birdied the final three holes of his bogey-free 67 to produce an admirable title defence as the Spaniard claimed second place, one shot clear of a frustrated Lee Westwood and Australia’s Brett Rumford.

European number one Westwood could only manage a final round 70 to claim a 12th top-10 finish in his last 15 events, while Rumford picked up two late birdies in a three-under-par 69.

After becoming the first Swedish player to be named European number one in 2008, Karlsson missed four months last year after suffering from blurred vision caused by fluid behind the retina in his left eye.

After recording his 10th professional victory, Karlsson said: “It was a tough time coming back.

“I had a couple of good finishes at the end of last year with Henrik (Stenson) at the World Cup and with a second in Japan, but it is fantastic to be back now.

“I am really happy to be back playing well, it is the first time I have played really well for a long time and the way I finished off today was very satisfying.”

Oliver Wilson (71) finished with a hat-trick of birdies to share fifth at eight-under-par alongside joint overnight leaders Bradley Dredge (74) and Paul Casey (74).

Thomas Bjorn carded his only sub-70 round of the week as a 69 secured eighth place at seven-under-par with Peter Lawrie (69), Ricardo Gonzalez (67), Niclas Fasth (71), 2007 champion Retief Goosen (72) and Camilo Villegas (70) rounding out the top 10, nine shots off the pace.