Molinari wins playoff to deny Karlsson victory in Japan

TOKYO (Reuters) - Italy's Edoardo Molinari beat Robert Karlsson in a playoff to win the Dunlop Phoenix tournament on Sunday, denying last year's European order of merit winner a first victory since an eye injury wrecked his season.

Karlsson, who missed more than four months with career-threatening retinal problems and failed to qualify for the Dubai World Championship, led by a stroke halfway through the final round of the $2.5 million tournament in Miyazaki.

Overnight leader Molinari made up the deficit over the back nine, however, to finish on 13-under-par and force a playoff which he won to join Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter on the honor role at the Phoenix Country Club.

Swede Karlsson, 40, will be boosted by his performance in Japan as he heads to Shenzhen, China next week to defend the World Cup of Golf title with compatriot Henrik Stenson.

Former U.S. Amateur champion Molinari, whose five previous professional wins came on the European Challenge Tour, will again team up with his younger brother Francesco to represent Italy at Mission Hills.

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Beijing; Editing by John O'Brien)