Round-up day four, South African Open
On Sunday, there were some very cagey performances especially by the likes of Henrik Stenson, who has been extremely solid throughout the South African Open.
However, his one-under 71 was enough to land in his first European Title since 2007.
“I hit a couple of loose ones out there, and obviously the one on nine was a bit like that. I left the club behind a little bit … wrapped it and hooked it into the hazard which wasn’t a great time to do that,” Stenson told reporters.
Stenson could not play as freely as he would have liked to but still it did the job for him. More importantly, he also booked his place for the year ending Dubai World Championship.
“It was great that I came down here,” Stenson told reporters. “One of the bigger reasons was I was 59th in The Race to Dubai standings and I needed a good week”.
The Swede’s closest rival George Coetzee could not match his third round heroics and finished second after carding a one-under.
It was not as easy in the end as it seems to be. The duo of Coetzee and Stenson were tied going onto the 15th hole.
However, George succumbed to the pressure and conceded a bogey, whereas the Swede lifted his game and went on to birdie 16th and 17th.
This is the first time since 2001 that a non South African player has won the South African Open at the Serengeti Golf Club.
Fellow South African, Thomas Aiken and former top ranked player Martin Kaymer finished T3 after both of them carded a decent round of 67 on Sunday.
For Thomas Aiken, it has been a well deserved finish. He was playing some decent golf and his T3 finish means that he has qualified for Dubai World Championship.
For Martin Kaymer, it may not be the result he wanted but the fact that he finished the tournament on a high note will boost his morale going in to the Dubai Championship.
Former Masters champion and another local South African, Charl Schwartzel finished a lone 5th after carding a 67 in the fourth round.
Lloyd Saltman needed a decent finish to the tournament to have any hopes of retaining his European Tour card. However, after 75 and 71 in the third and the fourth round, respectively, he finish way below at T13.
David Hewan and Brenden Grace had pathetic rounds, as the South African duo carded 80 and 77 respectively.
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