South Africa’s second team was good enough to finish first at the $4-million World Cup. Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman nursed a huge lead through Sunday’s round of foursomes and easily held on for a four-stroke victory in the World Golf Championships event at the Kiawah Island Resort.
Beginning play with a seven-stroke lead, a combined 3-under-par 69 by Sabbatini and Immelman gave them a four-round total of 17-under 271 and was more than enough to hold off the English duo of Paul Casey and Justin Rose, who vaulted to second with a 67.
Americans Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard and France’s Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin began the round seven shots off the pace and were unable to make a move. The Americans stumbled to a 3-over 75 and tied for fifth with Ireland, while the Frenchmen could only manage a 71 and placed third at 8-under 280.
Sabbatini and Immelman gave South Africa its fifth tournament title and second in three years. Ernie Els and Retief Goosen won in 2001, and Els won with Wayne Westner in 1996.
The event was supposed to pair the top golfers from their respective countries. But a handful of players withdrew, including Els and Goosen, South Africa’s best.
Els is ranked third in the world and Goosen seventh entering next week’s Presidents Cup in their homeland. Sabbatini is just 71st and Immelman 57th, which didn’t seem to matter here this week. – Sapa-AFP