For the third successive year the Dunhill Championship had to be decided by a play-off, but for the first time, it went to a South African.
A birdie putt at the first play-off hole saw Charl Schwartzel (20) claim his first-ever tour victory on Sunday, as well as the R882 000 first prize.
The youngster from Johannesburg edged out Englishman Neil Cheetham at the par-72 Leopard Creek Golf Club after both players had finished the tournament on seven-under-par 281.
Third spot was shared by Ernie Els, fellow South African Warren Abery and Briton Oliver Whiteley, all of them finishing on six-under-par 282.
Defending champion Marcel Siem of Germany will rue the four-over at 18 on the opening day as he still managed to end the tournament on 283, along with veteran South African David Frost.
The win also guarantees Schwartzel his European Tour card for the next three years.
”This is something I have always worked for and to actually make the breakthrough is an unbelievable feeling,” said an ecstatic Schwartzel.
Schwartzel became the second-youngest South African to win a European Tour tournament, the record still being held by Dale Hayes who was a few months short of his 19th birthday when winning the Spanish Open in 1971.
Schwartzel and Cheetham returned to the 18th tee to decide the winner and while Cheetham hit his ball square down the fairway, the South African pulled his ball right. That left him a tough second shot to the island green but Schwartzel, with 211m to the pin, pulled out a six-iron and aimed straight at the flag.
”I saw the ball go over the back of the green and I thought it was going in the water,” said Schwartzel. ”But when the crowd started cheering I knew it was safe.”
Cheetham, who birdied 18 to get into the play-off, virtually had the identical putt for his birdie.
”I knew the line of the putt, I knew the speed, but I just couldn’t get it right.”
Schwartzel, meanwhile, had chipped back to about six feet and was left with that to clinch the championship.
He struck it perfectly and began to pump his fist in the air even before the ball had dropped.
After Cheetham bogeyed both 15 and 16, Schwartzel had the tournament at his mercy. But with victory in sight, he became a little apprehensive and three-putted 17 for a bogey and then pulled his tee-shot left at the par-five 18th.
”There was a lot of pressure out there,” admitted the champion. ”It was really difficult.”
Schwartzel did reach the green in two but had about 50 feet for his eagle and left the ball about 12 feet short. A birdie still would have put his challengers out of reach, but unfortunately the young South African missed the putt to stay at seven under.
That left just Frost and Cheetham as the dangers, but the former blew his chances when his second shot went over the back of the green and landed in the water. Cheetham, although pulling his tee-shot left, got to the green in two and left himself about 35 feet for an eagle and the win.
He too left it about 12 feet short, but unlike Schwartzel, managed to make the birdie to force the play-off.
”I think I was more nervous waiting for them then I was playing myself,” said the South African.
Cheetham may have missed out on the win but the 37-year-old from Sheffield certainly made a lot of friends in South Africa.
”It would have been nice to win here, but it was a pleasure for me to be out there and be in contention on the final day. I think my family will be proud of me — and, hey, I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Cheetham added that he will be back in Durban come January for the SAA Open.
Els had another up-and-down day and came very close to making it into the play-off with five birdies on the back nine. Unfortunately, he had two disappointing bogeys as well, which certainly proved costly. — Sapa