If there is one player Robert Karlsson fears in this week’s Volvo World Match-Play Championship it’s GraemeMcDowell.

Karlsson will face the 2012 Ryder Cup  winning in tomorrow’s(THUR) opener on the immaculately prepared Finca Cortesin course on Spain’sCosta del Sol.

The Swede was a late entry into the 24-man field and taking theplace of injured former champion, Paul Casey.

Robert Karlsson - needing 'fresh' clothes if he's to defeat Graeme McDowell this week on the Costa del Sol. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)

Karlsson was a team mate of McDowell’s in the 2008 Valhalla losingside but failed to qualify for the Wales team.

And the Orlando-based Swede knows collecting the scalp of McDowell,presently lying seventh on the 2012 Ryder Cup points table, will go a long wayto boosting his current lowly 28th Medinah ranking.

“There are no easy groups this week including my first-up matchagainst Graeme,” he said.

“There is a reason why he was sent out in the last match of theRyder Cup as he is a very strong match player.

“He’s very strong around the greens and I know if I can get thebetter of him then I could go a long way in this tournament.

“But you know with Graeme that is not going to let go and he isgoing to fight you and take it right to you, and you will not be any to haveany rest.

“We saw also how he can handle pressure in winning the U.S. Open.”

However Karlsson’s pre-event preparation was unsettled by his lateentry and it’s meant he’s arrived in Spain with the same suitcase of dirtylaundry from last week’s Players Championship.

While Karlsson has brought some clothes from the local pro shot, hiswife, Ebba is flying over a suitcase full of fresh clothes to the current No.46 ranked Swede.

Darren Clarke, and the only other Irish player in the event, sitsout Thursday’s opening round and will face Tiger Woods slayer, Robert Rock andwinner of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, on Friday.