Robert Karlsson was delighted to join the host of golfing greats who have won the coveted World Cup trophy after combining with Henrik Stenson to capture the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for Sweden on Sunday.
The duo had made a relatively low-key start to the tournament and went into the final round four strokes behind leaders Spain and Australia.
However, Stenson and Karlsson saved their best for last and were superb around the Olazabal course at Mission Hills Golf Club in China today, carding a nine-under-par 63 in the tricky foursomes format.
Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal could only manage a two-under 70 to finish at 24-under-par 264 overall - three strokes behind Sweden.
Consequently, 2008 European Tour Order of Merit winner Karlsson and world number 12 Stenson join a lengthy list of famous pairings such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Harold Henning and Tiger Woods and David Duval as World Cup winners.
"It means very much to win for the country," said Karlsson. "This has always been an event in Sweden that's been big. To play for your country is great.
"If you look on the trophy, there's many impressive pairings on there. I hope we can look back on it in the future and say the same about us playing here."
Stenson, meanwhile, had come close on two previous occasions with Sweden, finishing second and third in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
It was also a first victory of the year for the 32-year-old, and the Dubai-based Swede was honoured to have won.
"We've had a great time all week," said Stenson. "We played fantastic today.
"I haven't had a win so far this year, and I have got one now, so I'm very pleased with that.
"It's a great honour to play for your country, and obviously even better when you win."
For Spain's Jimenez and Larrazabal it was a disappointing end to a tournament where they had looked well placed for victory heading into the weekend.
Much like Sweden today, Spain were superb in foursomes in the second round as they shot a 63 to move four shots clear of the field.
However, they failed to build on that over the course of the final two rounds and ultimately a bogey and only three birdies today cost them a chance of success.
But 2008 European Tour Rookie of the Year Larrazabal was gracious in defeat, accepting the best team on the day won.
"We didn't play like we did in the first and second round, but it was still a good performance and a great tournament for us," said the 25-year-old.
"But you know, I wanted so bad to go home with the trophy, and I'm a little bit sad now.
"However, the best team today was Sweden so congratulations to them."
England's Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher finished strongly as a five-under-par 67 today meant they claimed sixth place.
However, their resurgence came too late after disappointing scores in the first two rounds all but ended their chances of a World Cup victory.
"We could have run close but we had a bad day on Thursday and Friday," said Poulter.
"We should have had a chance to win this golf tournament."
Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell endured their worst round of the tournament for Ireland, carding a five-over 77 to drop to 16th while Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth signed for a 72 today to finish seven under par overall, tied for 19th place.
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