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.

The post Fleetwood flying high with three eagles to win Nedbank and Europe’s biggest prize appeared first on Golf North.

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.

The post Lombard is looking to bank €2.5m after outplaying his heroes at Nedbank Challenge appeared first on Golf North.

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.

The post Oosthuizen follows hospital treatment for kidney stones with super 63 at Nedbank appeared first on Golf North.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is one of four South Africans who are hoping home support will carry them to victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

NEDBANK Golf Challenge debutant Christiaan Bezuidenhout is living the dream as he prepares to tee it up in “Africa’s Major” for the first time in his career, in the penultimate Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The 25-year-old has had a break-out year on the European Tour in his second full season, with five top 10 finishes and a maiden victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, in June.

In an event with a 39-year history, Bezuidenhout has fond memories of visiting Sun City to watch his heroes and is now looking forward to calling upon the home support when play gets under way today (Thursday).

Bezuidenhout, who overcame the stigma of having been banned for two years after taking a prohibited substance to help him cope with a stutter in 2014, is feeling a lot happier with his golf and life in general.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve seen this event live since I was nine years old coming here, and here with my family.

“To be here now is a dream come true for me. Every year, this event is a big highlight for all the South Africans golfers and people that like the sport.

“Just to be thought of is a real honour and it should be a special week,” Bezuidenhout added.

“Every year you try to qualify for the final events, and yeah, I had a special year. Best year of my career so far, so for me, being here is a real bonus.

“To qualify for this event and to still be in the top 20 in the Race to Dubai – and to give myself a chance to reach my goals at the end of the year that I’ve set for myself, still in play – I’m looking forward to this week.”

One of nine South Africans in the field, Bezuidenhout is joined at Gary Player Country Club by another first-time winner in the 2019 season – Erik van Rooyen, the Scandinavian Invitation champion.

Van Rooyen is currently eighth on the Race to Dubai rankings after reaching the play-off at last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’m a little tired, body is a little sore,” said van Rooyen.

“It’s the end of the year, and especially an event like the Nedbank, it’s a fun event. So you kind of forget about it.

“The game is obviously in great shape. Pity about that one tee shot in the play-off last week, but that’s the nature of the game.

“Hats off to Tyrrell (Hatton). He obviously played really well. But my game is right where it needs to be, and it’s in a good place, especially with being home.

“I know this golf course really well. Got a lot of local support. It’s only looking up.

“It’s narrow. You can tell that Gary (Player) built the course, a lot of them slope left-to-right, so a draw would be preferable.

“It has really small greens. Probably some of the smallest greens we play all year. Ball-striking is a premium.

Of the host, van Royen said: “He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. He’s an icon in world golf, as you say, so to have his name attached to this, it’s wonderful.”

The pair are one half of four South Africans who have won European Tour titles this season, with Justin Harding and Louis Oosthuizen also teeing it up on home soil.

After taking last week off, Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick is feeling rested in his pursuit of becoming this year’s Race to Dubai winner.

Fitzpatrick, who was winning top amateur events like Hampshire’s Selborne Salver as a teenager just seven years ago, doesn’t feel it is a must win week, but admits he needs to win either this week or next if he is to beat the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to the crown.

“I wouldn’t say pressure to win. I would say pressure to contend,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I’m fourth on the Race to Dubai and there’s a chance to win the Race to Dubai still. It’s probably the closest I’ve been so far in my career to winning it.

“You know, two good weeks and you never know what happens. Obviously without winning either of them, the results have got to go heavily my way.

“But win one or both — win both, it will do. But certainly win one of them, it puts me right up there.

“I’ve not played as much this year. That’s one thing when Billy (Foster) came on the bag, that’s one thing he stressed.

“Looking at my schedule in years gone by, I was playing 30, 31, 32 events and this year I think I’m at 28 maybe. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is.

It’s an extra week to work on the game. It’s an extra week of rest,” Fitzpatrick added.

“Even just a week is a big thing. I think that’s been a big difference this year just playing a little bit less and it’s made the difference.”

The 2016 Ryder Cup debutant has four runner-up finishes this season and sits fourth on the order of merit, just over 1,000 points behind current leader Bernd Wiesberger.

However, with 1,665 points on offer to the winner, and a first prize of S$2.5million – the highest in European Tour history before next week’s S$3million winner’s cheque at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – competition is set to be fierce with just two events of the season remaining.

•For live scoring at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, click here.

The post Bezuidenhout can’t wait to hear Sun City fans’ roar at Nedbank Golf Challenge appeared first on Golf North.

The former World No. 1 fired a stunning final round of 64 at Gary Player Country Club last year to finish three strokes ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia.

It was good enough to ensure his return to the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2014 Maybank Championship, in Malaysia.

Westwood talking at Sun City – where the tournament is again hosted by Gary Player – said: “I always look forward to coming back to Sun City.

“It’s a brilliant resort and great golf course. Always done well around here and it brings back good feelings,” said Westwood who has played in 10 Ryder Cups since his debut in 1997, and played in more matches for Europe than any other player in its history.

“It’s nice to be back defending a tournament,” Westwood added.

“It’s tough to win these Rolex Series events and I managed to win this one last year. I’m excited about playing well again.

“I played well in Turkey last week, and excited to get back on the golf course this week,” said Lee, who finished in a share of 10th in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’ve won four times around here – three Nedbanks and a Dimension Data,” said the 46-year-old, who has 43 wins around the world since 1996.

“I know the course well. I know where they put the flags. I read these greens pretty well, as well.

“Distance control with the elevation changes and the extremes in temperature all come into that.

“I have a pretty good game plan for the course and I know how to handle the variations in conditions.”

The Nottinghamshire ace became the first European to win the title three times following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

He joined South African legend Ernie Els and Zimbabwean Major winner Nick Price with that treble.

Westwood will start the week in Sun City in the company of Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger and Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who currently occupies fourth place on the season-long standings.

Austrian Wiesberger has a lead of 387 points over Spaniard Jon Rahm with just two events left to play.

Rahm, winner of the Irish Open, in June – the third Rolex win of his career – has not played in an European Tour event since the Spanish Open over a month ago, which he also won.P

Wiesberger, who already has three wins in 2019, including two Rolex Series – said: “There are so many points to be had over the last events again, and a lot of things can happen.

“I’m just looking to be prepared as good as I can,” said the winner of the Scottish and Italian Opens.

“It’s getting a little bit tighter with some of my game that hasn’t been there the last two weeks.”

Thirty-four-year-old Wiesberger added: “Just look at the course – looking really forward to this week again.

“I’m not looking too much into the ranking and just controlling what I can control.”

Also teeing it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week is 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, who made his last appearance at this event that same year.

Fleetwood said: “It’s really nice to be back. I missed last year, the way scheduling worked out.

“Coming back, played it a few years now, and got such a great atmosphere, such a big event, it always has been.

“It continues to get bigger, really, and in terms of how important it is to the season, everything – and, coming down to the final couple of events, it’s special.

“The game wasn’t there in China, so we had to work on it. But I’ve done some good work last week. I feel a lot better.

“I feel a lot happier with where my swing is and where my head is. You know, always when you’re pushing for result, you feel like you should be doing better and you can be doing better.

“It’s difficult when you can’t quite get out of it what you want,” said 28-year-old Fleetwood, whose last win came in Abu Dhabi, in January 2018.

Fleetwood is joined by South African legend Els, who won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 1999, 2000 and 2002, before the event joined the European Tour’s schedule in 2013.

Els said: “I’m really pleased they gave they the invite. I was coming down to these parts already – I’m over 50 now, so I’m the oldest guy in the field. b

“I’ve had so many great memories around Sun City from fans and from the people I’ve met here, and obviously the golf course is very special to me,” said the winner of two Claret Jugs and two US Opens.

The winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge will receive 1,665 points on the Race to Dubai – and a cheque for S$2.5million.

Players will then battle for the largest first prize in tournament golf – S$3million – at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, next week.

•For tee times at Sun City click here.

The post Westwood in the running for back-to-back Nedbank Golf Challenge titles at Sun City appeared first on Golf North.

Branden Grace will compete for a first prize which has increased by $1m to $2.5m at next month’s Nedbank Challenge at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

HOME-favourite Branden Grace is excited to tee it up in the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player as Sun City and Gary Player Country Club celebrate their 40th anniversary, from November 14-17.

The South African delighted the home crowds with his eighth European Tour victory two years ago, finishing one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson.

Grace will be seeking a fourth victory on home soil this November – adding to his 2012 Joburg Open and 2015 Alfred Dunhill Championship victories when Sun City stages the seventh Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Set to tee it up in Africa’s Major for the sixth time, Grace can’t wait to return home to play golf for the final time in the 2019 season.

“Sun City and Gary Player Country Club is such an iconic venue for South African golfers,” said Grace, who became the first native golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge since Trevor Immelman 10 years earlier.

“This is an event steeped in history, and to win two years ago was very special.

“I have a lot of happy memories from playing there – it’s a demanding, but fair test.

“The work the team did in constructing and maintaining the golf course all those years ago is astonishing, and it is certainly one of the best courses we play all year.

“I can’t wait to play in front of a home crowd again and I’m hoping for another good week as we celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.”

Tournament host Gary Player said: “It’s wonderful to have Branden back at Sun City. Who can forget his 50-foot putt on the 16th hole in the final round in 2017 which was in my opinion his finest moment of that final round.

“It gave him a one-stroke lead and he carried it on to his first Rolex Series victory. There was immense pressure to end a decade-long drought of South African winners and Branden responded like a true champion.”

Nedbank Group chief executive Mike Brown said: “Former champions are an integral part of the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and they add tremendously to the quality of the field.

“We’re delighted to have Branden back with us as our last South African winner of ‘Africa’s Major’.”

Sun International chief executive Anthony Leeming said: “To have our last two champions competing again this year – Nottinghamshire’s Lee Westwood and Branden Grace – is another wonderful endorsement of the quality of our field.

“Branden’s victory in 2017 was the first by a South African since Trevor Immelman in 2007.

“In what is such a significant year for Sun City and the Gary Player Country Club and our 40th celebrations, we’re delighted to have the last South African winner in our field again.”

Grace joins compatriot and Major winner Louis Oosthuizen in a field which also includes Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood – the latter returns to defend his first Rolex Series title.

Westwood’s three-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia last year saw him become the first European golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge three times, following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge will enhance its status as one of world golf’s elite tournaments this season with an increase in both the first place prize money and Race to Dubai points.

The winner of the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge will take home $2.5million, a big increase on the $1.25million won by Westwood last year.

The overall prize fund remains at $7.5million, with the balance of the 63-player field from second place onwards playing for a $5million prize fund.

This year’s tournament also offers an increased haul of Race to Dubai points from 7,500 to 10,000, which places it above what the World Golf Championships tournaments offer.

•General access tickets and luxury return shuttles for the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player can be bought by clicking here.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, Circa has once again put together hospitality packages for the event, which can be purchased by clikcing here.

The post Sun City wants more good Grace when Branden returns for Nedbank Golf Challenge appeared first on Golf North.