Rory McIlroy shot a superb 65 to lead the World Golf Championship in Mexico City by two as he seeks to complete the WGC Grand Slam. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RORY McIlroy soared into a two-stroke first round lead at the WGC-Mexico Championship in his bid to complete the WGC Grand Slam.

The World No. 1 continued a stunning run of recent form with a six-under par 65, at Chapultepec Golf Club, in Mexico City.

The Northern Irishman has won every other World Golf Championships title and is hoping to complete the clean sweep this week in Mexico City.

McIlroy completed the third leg of the WGC Grand Slam when he triumphed at the most recent one – the WGC-HSBC Champions – in November.

“It was good. All aspects of my game were working pretty well,” said McIlroy after his first round.

“I drove the ball well, and I took advantage of that. I think the big thing was I putted well. I didn’t putt so well at Riviera last week.

“I went back to my old putter, I was trying a new one last week. It didn’t quite work out the way I wanted it to, but I was comfortable on the greens and holed some nice ones coming in.”

While questions may remain over McIlroy’s putting prowess, there was no doubting his premium ball-striking, regardless of the effect of playing at altitude, with Chapultepec some 7,600 feet above sea level.

Rory revealed: “I think I’ve got the altitude pretty figured out. I’ve always played well at altitude.

“I’ve played well in Crans over in Europe a few years. I finished second there last year, I obviously finished second here last year.

“I think I have a pretty good formula for it, and I can hit the ball a long way here, which helps, and then my distance control has been pretty good.

“That combined with not really guessing too much over things. Certainty goes a long way, especially around this place.”

McIlroy got off to a fast start after a stunning second shot into the par five 11th hole – his second – yielded an eagle, and he finished in some style too as a pair of closing birdies moved the 30-year-old two clear of Bubba Watson and Justin Thomas.

Louis Oosthuizen was one of four players a shot further back on three under, while his fellow European Tour Members Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed and Lee Westwood all carded 69s to sit four off the lead on two-under.

Oosthuizen said: “I felt like I was really unlucky on one. I pitched it on the downslope in the bunker and it stayed there, and had absolutely no shot – ended up leaving myself 10 feet for par and missed that.

So not the start I wanted, but I just fought it out really, and there’s still a lot of work to do.

“I’m struggling finding a driver that I’m comfortable with, so you’ll see me a few times in places that I’m normally not at.

“But I’m fighting it out, and I’ve done a good job on the greens today,” added Oosthuizen, who was third behind McIlroy at Sheshan Golf Club, in the HSBC Champions, in 2019.

•To follow Rory McIlroy’s hopes of completing the WGC Grand Slam click here.

Hatton happy to be playing again

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE pro Tyrrell Hatton was relieved to play well having missing three months while waiting for a persistent wrist injury to heal.

Hatton, who won the Turkish Airlines Open, in November, said: “Overall, I’m pretty happy with that.

“I’ve only been back hitting balls for the last three and a half weeks, so it was a long lay-off. I’m quite happy,” said the Harleyford GC member.

“Obviously I’ve done well here in the past, so I know the course pretty well, and yeah, it was just good to kind of get back out there and play competitive golf again.

“I always enjoy short, fiddly golf courses, I guess, and this is certainly up there with the best of them,” said Hatton, who also won the 2017 Italian Open on a tight parkland track.

“And I guess it’s funny because you need patience around here, and that’s something that I don’t really have.

“For some reason the course has kind of been fairly kind to me, and hopefully it continues this week.”

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Viktor Hovland produced a bullseye in the Hero Challenge final to defeat Louis Oosthuizen at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Formula One Circuit. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RISING star Viktor Hovland defeated Major Champion Louis Oosthuizen to win the first Hero Challenge of 2020 in Abu Dhabi.

With his final shot of the night worth double, Hovland delivered a “bullseye” 50, to add 100 points to his final total of 190 points, easily surpassing Oosthuizen’s total of 55.

It was the Norwegian’s debut in the European Tour’s innovative shootout which was played under lights in the iconic Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, where some of the world’s best players are gathered for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

“I can’t complain, that was a pretty good start to the week” said 22-year-old Hovland. “It’s an insane venue, I have never been to a place like this, so what a place to get my first professional victory.”

“I hit some pretty nice wedge shots tonight so hopefully that carries through to the tournament this week.

“To win the Hero Challenge is pretty cool and I’m looking forward to playing in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in a couple of days.”

The pair were joined by Major Champions Brooks Koepka and Danny Willett, plus European Tour stars Matthew Fitzpatrick and Bernd Wiesberger for the innovative shootout at Yas Marina.

Former Masters Champion Willett and fellow Yorkshireman Fitzpatrick – a previous winner of the Hero Challenge in Scotland last year – both bowed out in the first round.

Hovland then defeated World No. 1 Koepka in the first semi-final, before Oosthuizen held off Austria’s two-time Rolex Series winner Wiesberger to progress to the final, where Hovland got the better of the South African to claim the 11th edition of the popular Hero Challenge.

Oklahoma State University–Stillwater.^[2] In 2014, Hovland won the Norwegian national championships for amateurs.

Hovland won the US Amateur at Pebble Beach in 2018 and finished 12th at the iconic Californian course when it staged the US Open a year later.

Having also finished as the low amateur at last year’s Masters at Augusta, the Norwegian’s switch to the pro ranks was eagerly anticipated last season as his total at Pebble Beach broke Jack Nicklaus’ record for the low amateur score in the US Open dating back to 1960.

Hovland would have been eligible to play last year’s Open at Royal Portrush as the reigning US Amateur Champion, but turned pro after the US Open.

The Oklahoma State University graduate made his debut at The Travelers Championship, in Conneticut, and earned his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour thanks to his second place finish at the Albertson Boise Open.

Hovland finished fourth at the Wyndhams Championship at Sedgewick Country Club, in August, was tied 11th on his European Tour debut in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, in September.

With a likely rapid rise up the Official World Golf Rankings, Hovland can look forward to choosing where in the world he wants to play in 2020, with sponsors HSBC keen to help him with a start in Abu Dhabi this week.

Hero Challenge’s new venues for 2020

HERO MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, extended the Hero Challenge on the European Tour until 2022 before Christmas, with the number of annual events increasing from three to a series of five.

Following Abu Dhabi, the event moves to Europe for three more exciting editions, including the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik and Annika in Stockholm and the Porsche European Open in Hamburg.

The Betfred British Masters, which is being hosted by Lee Westwood at Newcastle’s Close House, in May is the only Hero Challenge on UK soil this year.

The series finale will take place ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending DP Worldl Tour Championship, in Dubai, and will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges from the 2020 campaign.

American stars boost Abu Dhabi HSBC field

THIS week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7 million.

American Presidents Cup winners Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay are in the field alongside Koepka, who returns to action after pulling out of Tiger Woods’ team that beat Ernie Els’ International side at Royal Melbourne, in December.

Koepka has recoverd from knee surgery in October, after playing through the pain for seven months in 2019 before going under the knife after aggravating his injury at the CJ Cup, in South Korea, after slipping on a hard surface.

The World No. 1 will be looking for a strong start to the season as he tries to win his third Sam Wanamaker Trophy at May’s USPGA at San Francisco’s TPC Harding Park, in May.

Koepka can’t wait to make return from injury

•For tee times in Thursday’s first round in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship click here.

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Branden Grace with the South African Open trophy after his stunning 62 – matching the lowest-ever round in Major Championship he produed at Royal Birkdale three years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BRANDEN Grace produced a masterful putting display in a closing 62 in his national open to complete the South African Slam at Randpark Golf Club.

Grace’s ninth European Tour victory in the South African Open was his first since his Rolex Series triumph at the 2017 Nedbank Golf.

The win sees him complete the “South African Slam” after winning the Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dimension Data Pro-Am.

The home duo could not be separated at the turn as they put on a stunning show, with Oosthuizen sending the huge crowds at Johannesburg’s Randpark into raptures with a hole-in-one at the eighth.

But Grace put his foot down on the way home, taking his tally of putts to just 22 as he finished at 21-under, three shots clear of Oosthuizen.

The victory secured Grace a place at this summer’s Open Championship, where he will be joined by fellow qualifiers Marcus Armitage and Jaco Ahlers.

Yorkshire-based pro Armitage birdied the last to finish at 16-under and secure his spot at Royal St George’s Golf Club, with home favourite Ahlers a shot behind alongside Jack Senior, who was edged out for The Open spot by virtue of being eight places lower than Ahlers on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Grace finished 113th on last season’s Race to Dubai after being in the top 10 for four of the previous seven seasons.

But he showed a return to form at last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship with a tie for third.

“That was remarkable,” said Grace. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

Grace bogeyed the second but hit back brilliantly, making a gain on the third, before eagling the fourth from 25 feet.

The first player to shoot 62 in a Major at Royal Birkdale in the The 2017 Open, made another birdie on the fifth.

The 31-year-old was in a tie for the lead when Armitage three-putted the sixth.

And Grace hit the front with a 15-foot right-to-left putt on the seventh.

An excellent up-and-down at the eighth kept him in front, but Branden was soon leapfrogged by Oosthuizen as the 2010 Open Champion produced the shot of the week.

After seven straight pars, his tee shot looked to be heading right and towards the water.

But it took a big hop left off the fringe and rolled into the cup for an ace.

Grace responded with a 25-foot birdie on the ninth and he edged back in front on his own after a stunning recovery from the rough on the 11th.

Armitage just loves Randpark – here’s why

A wonderful approach brought Oosthuizen level on the same hole but Grace found another gear.

He sandwiched a birdie from 12 feet on the 13th with a birdie four at the 12th and a three at the 14th to open up a three-shot lead to complete his South African Slam.

Armitage’s birdie on the last for a 69, then saw his 11-under total matched by Ahlers, while Senior went two better.

But the Fleetwood GC member missed out on a spot at The 148^th Open by virtue of being spots lower on the Official World Golf Rankings.

•To see the final scores at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg click here.

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Louis Oosthuizen and Viktor Hovland will make their Hero Challenge debut at this week’s curtain raiser to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, at the United Arab Emirates’ famous Yas Marina Formula One track. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

MAJOR winners Louis Oosthuizen and Danny Willett will join rising star Viktor Hovland to complete a world-class line up for the first Hero Challenge at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina racing circuit.

Fresh from his near miss defence in Sunday’s South African Open, Oosthuizen will play in Tuesday’s curtain-raiser to this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which gets under way on Thursday,

The trio of Willett, Hovland and Oosthuizen will join World No. 1 Brooks Koepka and European Tour stars Bernd Wiesberger and Matthew Fitzpatrick for the innovative shootout event at the iconic Yas Marina Circuit.

Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – recently extended the Hero Challenge on the European Tour until 2022.

The number of annual events will increase in 2020 from three to a series of five.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship hosts the first of the New Year, with the series culminating in a final event featuring the previous four winners.

South African Oosthuizen boasts the 2010 Open Championship among his nine European Tour titles and will make his Hero Challenge debut as 5,000 fans watch six of golf’s biggest stars battle it out for the title in the exciting head-to-head format.

Oosthuizen said: “The Hero Challenge looks like a lot of fun, and especially this time round as we’ll be playing in such a cool location in Yas Marina.

“I can definitely say that it will be a first for me to play golf at a Formula One track, and I’m looking forward to going up against the guys in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.”

Yorkshire’s Willett returns to the Hero Challenge after coming close to getting his hands on the trophy in the final edition of the 2019 season in Dubai, in November.

The 2016 Masters champion will arrive in the United Arab Emirates looking to continue the form that saw him secure his seventh European Tour title – and his second on the Rolex Series – at last season’s BMW PGA Championship.

Hovland is one of golf’s most promising young stars, and the 22-year-old Norwegian will join Oosthuizen and Koepka in making his Hero Challenge debut at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The former World Amateur No. 1 won the low amateur honours at both the Masters and the US Open in 2019, before impressing on his first professional start on the European Tour with a tied 11th place finish at Wentworth.

The Hero Challenge will be hosted by Vernon Kay and Iona Stephen under floodlights at Yas Marina Circuit, which hosts the annual Formula One Grand Priz race.

It will be broadcast live around the world with music and entertainment acts adding drama to the show. Doors will open to spectators from 5.30pm local time.

After the opening event in Abu Dhabi, the Hero Challenge then moves to Europe for three more exciting editions.

The first is the Scandinavian Mixed hosted by Henrik and Annika in Stockholm.

Then it’s on to the North East of England with the Betfred British Masters, to be hosted by Lee Westwood at Close House.

The Porsche European Open, in Hamburg, will host the fourth leg.

The series finale will take place ahead of the European Tour’s season-ending event in Dubai, and will feature the winners of all four Hero Challenges from the 2020 campaign.

The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship once again takes its place as part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, each with a minimum prize fund of $7million.

•Fans can register for FREE tickets to the thrilling spectacle at the famous Formula One racing circuit by clicking here.

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Texan Johannes Veerman was the first round leader at the South African Open after shooting a flawless 62 at Randpark Golf Club’s Bushwillow Course in his fourth 29th start in Europe. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AMERICAN Johannes Veerman fired the lowest round of his fledgling European Tour career to take the first round lead at the South African Open.

Veerman shot a brilliant bogey-free 62 over the Bushwillow Course at Randpark Golf Club to get to nine-under.

He leads the way by one from Italy’s Nino Bertasio and South African home favourite JC Ritchie who were also on the Bushwillow.

Branden Grace, one of the pre-tournament favourites posted seven-under to sit alongside two more South Africans – Toto Thimba Jnr and Rourke van der Spuy.

Chile’s Matias Calderon, and Manchester’s Sam Horsfield – who was championed by Ian Poulter as an amateur having been based in Florida since he was five – and Greek Peter Karmis.

Veerman’s joy in Johannesburg was a far cry from just 54 days ago when he sat five-over after two days at the Qualifying School – with little chance of having any playing privileges on the European Tour for 2020.

The 27-year-old then shot two rounds of 67 followed by a pair of 66s to secure a place on the European Tour – and has not looked back since.

Veerman’s first three starts produced two top 10s on the Race to Dubai.

His 62 on day one of the first event of the decade would have equalled Louis Oosthuizen’s course record – had preferred lies not been in place after heavy overnight rain.

Veerman, a Californian – who played on the Web.com in the first year after he graduated from Texas A&M College, in 2014 – was delighted after coming home in 29.

“It was a good round of golf today,” Veerman said. “The course was set up to go low out there.

“The wind didn’t blow hard, the rough isn’t long and the greens were receptive, so there was a good number out there.

“I kept hitting a lot of good shots on the front nine but I didn’t make as many putts as I did on the back nine.

“On the back nine I made two long ones of 40-plus feet. I hit 17 greens so that’s a lot of chances I had for birdie.

“I’ve been practising really hard over the last six or seven months and I’ve been getting better. To come out and start 2020 playing like this gives me a lot of confidence.

“It is only the first round – but it is a step in the correct direction.”

Veerman birdied the second and fifth but jumped into a share of the lead with a hat-trick of gains from the tenth.

He then burst clear of the field with four more birdies on the back nine including a lovely chip-and-run on the 17th, followed by an excellent approach to the last.

Bertasio birdied the first, third, fourth, sixth, eighth, 12th and 13th before an eagle from 10 feet on the 17th handed him a share of the lead.

But poor tee shot on the 18th then saw the Italian finish with a bogey.

Ritchie was bogey free in his opening round, picking up shots on the first, fifth, sixth, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th and last.

Grace also came home in 31 to post the lowest round of the day on the Firethorn Course, which will host the final two rounds over the weekend.

The Rolex Series winner birdied the first, fourth, 12th and 14th. He then holed a bunker shot on the 15th and picked up two more birides on the 16th and 18th.

Van der Spuy holed out for an eagle at the 18th to make up five shots over the last four holes, while Calderon and Karmis were bogey-free in their rounds of 64.

Horsfield who played with Thimba had a roller-coaster ride shooting 10 birdies only dented by three dropped shots.

Defending champion Oosthuizen also went bogey-free as he carded six-under after playing with South Africa’s junior protege Jayden Trey Schaper, who played in the recent Junior Presidents Cup, at Royal Melbourne, and is still an amateur currently ranked at 85th in the world.

The South Africans played with 18-year-old AfrAsia Bank Mauritus Open champion Rasmus Højgaard, one of Europe’s exciting prospects alongside twin brother Nicolai, who played in the last Junior Ryder Cup.

•The 240 strong field will play the other course on Friday with the top 65 making the cut. For live scoring from Randpark click here.

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Louis Oosthuizen will defend the South African Open title he won at Randpark Golf Club in 2019 but face stiff competition from fellow countrymen including Branden Grace.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

DEFENDING champion Louis Oosthuizen would love to make a successful defence of his South African Open title.

But the 2010 Open Champion will have some serious competition from two more home favourites desperate to lift one of the oldest trophies in golf at Johannesburg’s Randpark GC this week.

Oosthuizen has been at the very top of the game ever since he claimed the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

He achieved another long held ambition when winning his national open for the first time 12 months ago.

With Ernie Els eligibile for the senior circuit since last season, Oosthuizen will now become the flagbearer for a proud golfing nation at the age of just 37… and he will have plenty of support.

While 20-somethings Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone and Erik van Rooyen are making a name for themselves at the start of their careers, experienced heads like Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel continue to compete at the very top in their 30s.

Grace and Schwartzel have 19 European Tour wins between them including a Major Championship and a Rolex Series win – but have yet to lift the trophy at the second oldest open in golf.

And Oosthuizen knows all too well how special ending the long wait for that victory is.

“It means a lot,” Oosthuizen said. “I was wanting to win it for a long time. It’s always nice coming back and just playing it, defending it is very special.

“It was a tournament I was really trying to get to win with all the great champions on there: Ernie, Retief (Goosen), Mr Player, all of them. I wanted to have my name on the trophy.

“It was nice having a big lead at the end there so I could take it all in,” added Louis, who will play alongside Bezuidenhout on the Bushwillow Course, at 8.35am local time, in Thursday’s first round.

The last player to win the South African Open back to back was another South African Major winner Trevor Immelman in 2003 and 2004 – the second victory four years before he claimed a Green Jacket at the Augusta Masters.

Schwartzel – the 2011 Masters winner – secured his seventh top five at this event last season.

But the South African – who claimed the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Strokeplay at Royal Cinque Ports, in Kent 18 years ago as an 17-year-old – saw the rest of his 2019 campaign derailed by a wrist injury.

A top three on his return at the Alfred Dunhill Championship before Christmas showed Charl is close to a full recovery.

And Schwartzel is aching to get over the line at Randpark Golf Club for a ninth European Tour win in South Africa – having won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopark Creek four times between 2004 and 2015.

“It’s been a quest of mine for quite some time,” said Schwartzel. “I’ve come real close a lot of times, I’ve thrown one or two away, but at least I’ve been up there quite a few times.

“Hopefully I’ll break through. It’ll be a dream come true. As a South African, it’s definitely high on the list.”

Grace won his first European Tour title at the 2012 Joburg Open and has since added the biggest titles in South African golf with the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Dimension Data Pro-Am and the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

And the 31-year-old feels a win this week can complete his set on home soil although three of the last five winners have been English – Sullivan, Graeme Storm (2017) and Chris Paisley (2018), although they all won at Glendower GC.

“This is the one that I’m missing,” Grace said. “This is the one that I need, this is the one that is short for me to win it all in South Africa.

“I’ve been close a few times now so hopefully the time is ticking on for me to put my hands on this one.

“It would mean the world,” added Grace, who will join Van Rooyen and 2015 winner Andy Sullivan in their three-ball, which tees off at 11.55am local time on the Firethorn Course.

The latter will host the weekend’s play after the 240-strong field have played a round on each of the two courses being used this week.

•For tee times for the first round of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, click here. To follow first round scoring click here.

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Tommy Fleetwood’s victory in a play-off at the Nedbank Golf Challenge earned the biggest prize so far in European Tour history – a cheque for $2.5million. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

TOMMY Fleetwood defeated Marcus Kinhult in a thrilling play-off to win his second Rolex Series title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge after coming from six shots after three eagles in his final round at Sun City.

Victory put the hero of Europe’s record Ryder Cup win at Le Paris National last year, in contention to top the Race to Dubai Rankings for the second time in three years after earning the biggest prize cheque so far in the European Tour’s history.

Fleetwood, who joined the illustrious list of Rolex Series winners at the 2017 Open de France, started the final round at the Gary Player Country Club in 12th spot.

But the Lancastrian flew up the leaderboard after three birdies and the first of an incredible three eagles before the turn.

He then eagled the 10th and the 14th – recovering from dropped shots on the 12th and 13th holes.

A final birdie of the day on the 15th saw him sign for a 12-under total leaving an agonising wait to see if his total could be matched or bettered by the leaders.

Sweden’s Kinhult started three strokes behind overnight leader Zander Lombard, and made a crucial birdie on the 15th to join Fleetwood on 12 under.

That set up a play-off for the S$2.5million first prize as neither Lombard or home favourite Louis Oosthuizen, who had led the tournament between them for three days, could sustain a title charge.

On the first extra hole, Kinhult had to play out sideways after a poor tee shot, eventually settling for bogey.

Meanwhile Fleetwood made an excellent up-and-down to save par and tapped in from three feet for the biggest winner’s prize in European Tour history.

Fleetwood made it five career wins in total, and said: “It feels good, emotional. It has been a long time coming, and I’m not one to complain.

“But I really did want to win something. You know, it’s the best. Winning is just such a good feeling.

“You know everybody puts a lot of hard work in week-in, week-out and you wait for your time to come.

“I’ve probably been impatient most of the time. But I feel happy and lucky that it’s been my time this week.

Fleetwood agreed it had been one of the best rounds of his career, adding: “I would have liked to keep a couple bogeys off the card.

“But I like the way I played, the way I hit it, felt like the way I putted, the way I handled myself emotionally, staying in the present.

“And then the play-off, bit of luck with the tee shot, chip shot probably a bit lucky and holed the putt, but it all goes together with just such an amazing day.

“It’s such a great, great thing and a feeling to be playing with a chance to win the Race to Dubai in the last event.

“Everybody starts the Tour at the start of the season to get there, and be one of the guys that can actually finish at the top is very special.”

Kinhult, who won for the first time at the Betfred British Masters at Hillside, in May, said: “I’m proud. Shot a good score today.

“Got into the play-off and made a silly bogey, but I’m happy with the week and how I played. It’s a good week.

“Losing is not all fun but Tommy deserved that. Great up-and-down. Great champion,” added the Swede, who is not starting to fulfil the promise that had him tipped for the top as an amateur.

A year ago, Kinhult finished in last place on his debut at the Nedbank.

Kinhult added: “It’s quite an improvement. I look forward to coming back next year and seeing if we can do better.

“I’m happy this week, especially how last year turned out with that last place finish. I think we’re learning every time we come here.”

The win moves Fleetwood to second place on the Race to Dubai in his bid to be named European No. 1 for the second time, following his 2017 triumph,  at next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, when the first prize will create a new record for a second week running.

Current leader – Austrian Bernd Wiesberger – finished in a share of third place alongside Belgium’s Thomas Detry and Australian Jason Scrivener, who both moved inside the top 50 on the Race to Dubai, securing their places at Jumeirah Golf Estates this week.

Defending champion Lee Westwood and home favourite Louis Oosthuizen shared sixth, while Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre took the lead again in the race for the Rookie of the Year title, finishing in eighth place alongside Lombard.

•For final results and prize money at the Nedbank Golf Challnege click here.

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Zander Lombard has won €1.2m so far in his European Tour career – he leads the €2.5m Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City with 36 holes to play. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ZANDER Lombard continued his recent run of fine form to take a two shot-lead into the weekend at South Africa’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The South African, who topped last season’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit, carded a round of 65 to get to 11-under par.

Lombard, who came closest to his breakthrough win losing a play-off in the Rocca Forte Open, in Sicily two years ago, said: “Playing with two legends of the game, it was nervy.

“But I settled down quickly with a birdie on the second and it was just all really good vibes from there. I played really well.

“The crowds were at their max and all into it. They were cheering and they were fantastic,” said Lombard, who did win the European Tour Qualifying School, at Lumine, in Spain, a year ago today.

“They were cheering for Ernie and Lee at the start, but I won them over at the end, so it was awesome.

Lombard, who lost in the final of the 2014 Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush, in 2015, is aware of the life-changing sums on offer to the winner at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

“It’s a huge opportunity, and just need to keep myself calm and do the same on the weekend,” said 24-year-old Zander, who has won €1.2million in 95 European Tour events so far in his career.

“I’ve got a great team behind me and the processes are in place. I’m going to stick to my processes.

“It sounds cliché, but it’s as simple as that and we’ll see where it puts me at the end of the week,” said Lombard, who did win one of the Sunshine Tour’s Vodacom Origins Pro-Ams in 2018.

Compatriot Louis Oosthuizen – the 2010 Open Champion – got to nine-under, alongside Belgian Thomas Detry to trail Lombard in the seventh Rolex Series tournament of the season – the penultimate event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

All three were in a tie for the lead after Lombard – who was playing alongside defending champion Lee Westwood and South African legend Ernie Els – went eagle-birdie after the turn.

But the 2014 Amateur Championship finalist’s rivals started heading in the wrong direction as he hit the front.

Overnight leader Oosthuizen – who was unsure if he would tee off on Thursday after suffering from kidney stones in the 24 hours before he was due to start – dropped shots on the 14^th and 15^th.

Oosthuizen, who had been in hospital seeking treatment on Wednesday, said: “I was fine starting. The last six holes got me a bit.

“The tee shot on 14 – I felt it in the right lower with the pain. I think the next two holes, I was thinking of that and didn’t really focus on what I had to do.

“Then on 16 again, I got my focus back and played nicely coming in. Pretty fatigued. Just need to rest for tomorrow.”

Meanwhile Detry double-bogeyed the 17^th after finding water from the tee and missing it with his third by the width of a post.

“It’s a tough course, anything can happen. Played some really good golf. On 17, it could have been a high number there.”

The Belgian, who is looking for his first European Tour victory in an event with a $2.5million winner’s prize, dropped another shot on the last.

“I limited the damage with a double-bogey and got a bit unlucky on 18,” said Detry.

“I hit a great drive, 300 metres down the middle. But it’s golf and just move on and see tomorrow.

“The putter seems to be working. Whole swing seems to be working as well,” added Detry, who has trod a similar path to Thomas Pieters after going to the same American University before turning pro.

Detry said: “Anything can happen on the weekend. A few guys are ahead of me, a few guys behind me. I think it’s going to be a fun battle.”

The 2017 Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood and Swede Marcus Kinhult are in a share of fourth place at six-under par.

Fleetwood, who has not won since Abu Dhabi in January 2018, said: “It’s a tough golf course, and you’re always not that bad of a golf shot away from being stuck in trouble.

“You’ve just got to stay on it,” said the hero of Europe’s Ryder Cup win over the USA at Le Paris National in September 2018.

“Generally I feel like I can do well. I love this place. I love the week. I think it’s got a great atmosphere to it.

“I like teeing off on this golf course. I feel like there’s a lot of holes where you have to just make sure you free yourself up,” added Fleetwood.

Aaron Rai, from the West Midlands, Australian Jason Scrivener and Denmark’s Joachim B Hansen are a further shot back.

The current Race to Dubai leader – Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger – is among a group of seven players at four-under.

•For live scoring in the third round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, click here.

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Louis Oosthuizen left. his sick bed to shoot a nine-under par at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club, to lead the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

LOUIS Oosthuizen carded a stunning bogey-free round of 63 to lead the Nedbank the Golf Challenge – just hours after seeking hospital treatment for kidney stones that forced him to miss the pro-am on Wednesday.

Oosthuizen was not even sure he would be able to play at all just hours before his tee time at Sun City.

The 2010 Open Championship winner opened up a three-shot lead after shooting nine-under par in his first round, in the seventh Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Oosthuizen said: “Considering that at 3am this morning, I didn’t think I was doing going to tee it up, I’m very chuffed with that round.

“I woke yesterday with kidney stones and this morning was very uncomfortable.

“But it sort of eased at 6, 7am. You could see me walking slower and just going at everything a little slower out there.

“But I know I played good at the WGC-HSBC Champions two weeks ago and I know the swing is there – the putting’s there. I just need to be healthy to play.

“I just love this golf course. One of my first wins on the Sunshine Tour was here, the Dimension Data, and every time I play here, it brings back a lot of good memories.”

The South African has claimed five of his nine European Tour wins on home soil – but has yet to lift the trophy at the event they call “Africa’s Major”

Oosthuizen does have three top tens in his last four appearances at the Gary Player Country Club – South Africa’s most famous play is hosting the Nedbank again.

Oousthuizen’s victory earlier this season at Johannesburg’s South African Open fulfilled a long-held ambition to win his national championship.

And he now has the perfect platform to launch a challenge for a first Rolex Series win.

Belgian Thomas Detry is Oosthuizen’s nearest challenger at six-under, one shot ahead of Italy’s Guido Migliozzi, who is in contention for the Rookie of the Year crown after recording two wins in his debut season.

Detry, who is still looking for a maiden solo win on the European Tour, said: “I had it going pretty quickly. I have got good vibes out here.

“I played pretty well here last year. Not quite as good as Louis today, but pretty happy,” said Detry, who won the ISPS Handa World Cup of Golf with former University of Illinois team-mate Thomas Pieters, last year.

“I’ve been playing really, really well recently. You know, again last week, I was 11-under after two rounds and didn’t play quite as good on the weekend,” added Detry.

“But I’m very comfortable with my game, and if I can keep the putter hot for four days, then something might happen.”

Migliozzi, who won the Magical Kenya Open back in March, said: “I played solid tee-to-green and really happy about my game.

“It’s been a good round. I started very good, six-under par for the front nine,” said the Italian, who also won the Belgian Knockout in June.

“Rookie of the Year is something I would like to get. The competitors are really good, but let’s see what this week and the next one will bring, too.”

Defending champion Lee Westwood has never won a European Tour title back to back, although he has successfully defended three of his 43 titles won around the world – including the Nebank eight years ago when it was a limited field event.

Westwood, who is now 46, said: “You can’t win this tournament on the first day. Anything under 70 always feels like a great start to this tournament.

“I played well. Controlled the ball flight. Could have hit a few more fairways. Would have made it a little easier. I was in the rough too ofte –, but no bogeys and 68 was a great start.”

Three-time winner Ernie Els and another home favourite in Zander Lombard joined Westwood on four-under.

Meanwhile 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood and South African pair George Coetzee and Richard Sterne are among a group of 10 players at three-under.

•For live scoring from the Nedbank Golf Challenge City click here.

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Fedex Cup champion Rory McIlroy beat defending champion Xander Schauffele in a play-off to win the HSBC Champions, at Sheshan International. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RORY McIlroy overcame Xander Schauffele in a play-off to win his third World Golf Championships title at the WGC-HSBC Champions, in China.

The Northern Irishman – who claimed his second Fedex Cup win in August – entered the final day at Sheshan International Golf Club with a one-shot lead.

And McIlroy still held that as he stood on the 18th tee, with playing partner and defending champion Schauffele his nearest challenger.

A closing birdie from Schauffele saw him join McIlroy at 19-under and take it to extra holes, but the American could not repeat last season’s play-off triumph over Tony Finau.

McIlroy hit a wonderful drive and found the green in two to set up a birdie which Schauffele could not match.

The San Diego ace found a nasty lie off the tee and was forced to lay-up on the first trip back up the 18th.

McIlroy said: “There’s a lot of stuff that people don’t see behind the scenes just in terms of hard work and putting the hours in at home.

“But all of that, it’s not work, really. It’s playing golf for a living. I’d be in trouble if I did have to work for a living.

“To practise hard and to do all the right things and to see it pay off like this and get wins like this makes it all worthwhile.

“It is what sport is about. Xander pushed me the whole way, or all 73 holes we played together this week.

“We played every round, and one more, as well. He played great. He was battling a flu all week, wasn’t feeling his best, and so the calibre of golf he played this week, it takes some doing.

“I don’t want to take anything away from him. He birdied the last to get into the play-off, and then I produced two of the best shots of the day when I needed it, which was really cool.

“I have one more event left in Dubai. I want to finish the season off as well as I can,” said McIlroy, whose biggest disappointment of the year came when he missed the cut at Royal Portrush, which hosted the Open, for the first time in 58 years in July.

McIlroy, who had two top 10s in the US Open and USPGA, added: “I really wanted to get another win before the end of the year.

“And now that I’ve done that, it would be nice to get two wins.

“I’m excited for the future. I feel like this year compares to 2014, 2015, but I don’t see any reason why I can’t go ahead and have an even better year next year.”

The win for McIlroy is his fourth worldwide this season and sees him join only Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods as players to have won three of the four World Golf Championships events.

Rory’s previous victories came at the Bridgestone Invitational in 2014, and the WGC Cadillac Match Play in 2015.

A 14th European Tour victory – and the World No. 2’s first since the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open – also sees him equal Darren Clarke’s record for Northern Ireland.

Schauffele paid tribute to his conqueror saying: “He’s an elite player. When he’s on, I’d say he’s arguably the best player in the world.

“He made me play better. I know what I need to do to become a better player.

“My time will come. I’m looking forward to getting healthy, not coughing, sleeping. More important things than trying to win a golf tournament.”

South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen was the third member of the final group and he finished third at 17-under – two shots clear of Mexico’s Abraham Ancer, Frenchman Victor Perez and Austrian Matthias Schwab.

Perez and Schwab both fired closing rounds of 66 in impressive World Golf Championships debuts, while Ancer signed for a 67.

Sheffield’s Matthew Fitzpatrick finished on 14-under, two shots clear of Jason Kokrak, Patrick Reed and Paul Waring.

•For full results in the HSBC Champions click here.

SHANGHAI, CHINA – NOVEMBER 03: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland pictured after with the ‘Old Tom Morris Trophy’ after winning the WGC HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club on November 03, 2019 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

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