Golf; Pablo Martin lifts the trophy at Leopard Creek
The Spaniard stood on the winner’s podium with a trophy in one hand and cheque in other. Pablo Martin won the Alfred Dunhill Championship for the second time with three-stroke edge over a trio of Charl Schwartzel, Anthony Michael, and Thorbjorn
Olesen.
The 24-year-old chose to tee from front and added a superb round to his scorecard. He birdied the first hole and eagled the next. This particular eagle was the fourth successful attempt in the 54-hole session; he picked one in the first
round and two in the second. With a gap of four pars, the player birdied two more holes and wrapped the front nine with a score of five-under-30.The initial edge of five strokes pushed him face to face with the early leader, Anthony Michael.
Martin was extremely pleased with his first half and he said, "I was really lucky to start off strong. I hit a couple of really good shots out there and a good couple of putts. In the end, I needed it a little more than I would have liked."
However, on the back nine, the two-time winner failed to keep up with his long strides. With a gap of three pars, the winner nearly bogeyed the par-5 13th. It was raining and the storm turned the river on the left out of control.
The third shot on the left caught the bunker, but Martin sand-wedged the ball and it reached the green safely without further loss.
For the second time in the tournament, Martin bogeyed the par-4 14th hole. Although, the par-4 was one of the easiest holes on the course, but the player failed to comprehend it and missed a par-putt. The first blow shook Martin’s
confidence and hence the defending champion double bogeyed the 17th hole. His seventeenth tee shot fell on the grass on the side of a bunker, but he recovered the ball from there. However, his second shot failed to reach the green and fell in the
bunker resulting in a double-bogey seven.
Martin had been facing trouble with the putter throughout the week and it was his putting that led to loss of three strokes. However, Spaniard’s driver saved him from further loss at the 18th tee, when his tee shot hit green in
regulation and earned him a birdie.
Three strokes behind was a trio of Charl Schwartzel, Anthony Michael, and Thorbjorn Olesen. Michael could have pushed the tournament into a playoff, if he would not have dropped a putt at the 17th green. A small mistake caused him to share the
massive amount given to runner-up with two other veterans. Meanwhile, Charles once again followed the tradition and birdied the 18th hole, surging up in the second spot. South African’s conclusion has taken away his chance of winning the 2010 Order
of Merit, but it has not dampened his morale for 100th SA Open, which he plans to win.
The South African is not alone in the bid as Martin shows similar desires. The winner dedicated his victory to his late father, who wanted to see him defend the title successfully. After the prize distribution ceremony, Martin was drenched
in water by his fellow compatriots, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Alvaro Velasco. It is a custom in Spain that winner is thrown in water, but as the lakes of Leopard Creek has crocodiles, therefore, the duo avoided fulfilling the tradition.
After getting drenched, Martin told the press, "Normally, they throw people into ponds, and stuff, but I'm glad they restrained themselves today, because there are crocodiles and stuff around here."
The Alfred Dunhill Championship ended on 12th December at Leopard Creek in South Africa with Pablo Martin in the lead. The tournament was penultimate event on Sunshine Tour as the South African Open is ready to mark the season close in the current
week.
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