Retief Goosen made a crucial birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the South African Airways Open by one stroke from Ernie Els at The Links, Fancourt, on Sunday.
Goosen posted a 70 for a 72-hole aggregate of 282, 10-under-par, while Els fired a five-under-par 68 for a 283 at nine under.
Darren Fichardt and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy finished joint third at two-under for the tournament, while Keith Horne, Swede Mattias Eliasson and Frenchman Gregory Havret shared fifth at level par.
Goosen, who enjoyed an overnight lead of three shots from second-placed Els, had a shaky start when he bogeyed the par-four first hole, but then had a run of pars coupled with birdies at the fourth and the par-five ninth, to turn at a one-under-par 35 and eight-under overall.
Els, meanwhile, started strong and played flawless golf for a bogey-free three-under-par 33 that included birdies at holes three, four and eight to reduce the deficit to one stroke at minus seven.
However, there was a two-shot swing on the par-four 12th when Els pulled his second shot into a water hazard and had to drop out, eventually carding a double-bogey six. Goosen had gone through 12 on level par and was back to his three-shot advantage. Then Els went on a birdie spree at holes 14, 15 and the par-five 16th, and with Goosen playing the holes at par, the ”Big Easy” was again on level terms.
There was more drama to follow. On the par-three 17th, Goosen went way over the green and had a difficult chip up a steep bank just to get it close to the pin. The ”Goose” went one better and chipped in for a spectacular birdie.
With Els only managing par, Goosen again had a slender lead walking to the 18th.
”We both hit the wrong clubs on 17,” said Goosen. ”We both hit eights and should have hit a nine. I did not end up with a good lie and was expecting the ball to pop up. I was just hoping to get it close and was shocked when it went down.”
Both players found the fairway with their drives on the par-five 18th, and with Goosen playing first, his second ran through the green. Els’s second, however, was pinpoint, which left him a five-footer for an eagle.
Goosen, under pressure, took out the putter and stuck it close from 30 feet. Els then had the eagle to force an unlikely win if Goosen missed his birdie attempt, but the three-time SAA Open champion’s putt came agonisingly close and he had to settle for the birdie four. Goosen stepped up and calmly drained his for birdie to lay claim to his second Open title.
”We both hit good drives on 18,” explained Goosen. ”My ball was lying on a down slope and I hit a six-iron but pushed it to the left. I had a drain in front of my line for the putt, but I managed to put it close.
”I expected Ernie to make his putt and was surprised when he missed, but it was a tough one. It was a case of if he missed, I won, and if I missed he’d win.”
Goosen, who won his first SAA Open title in 1995 at Randpark, admitted that he was not on top of his game.
”I’m not hitting the ball how I would like,” mused Goosen. ”Today I drove the ball pretty nicely except for one bad drive, but I made no decent putts.”
But for a man who is out of sorts with his game, Goosen has still managed to win four tournaments this year (including the SAA Open) and says he will definitely be defending his title next year at Humewood.
”It’s hard to believe that it’s 10 years since I won this tournament,” said Goosen. ”But I will definitely be back at Humewood. It’s the only true links golf course in South Africa, so I’m really looking forward to it.” — Sapa