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.

An eagle at the par-five 18th has put tournament favourite Ernie Els back in contention for the Dunhill Championship title at the par-72 Leopard Creek golf course on Saturday. After a poor three-over-par round on Friday, Els appeared to have his work cut out.

The story of Friday’s second round at the Dunhill Championship was more about the losers than the winners. After shooting a five-under-par 67 on Thursday to lie one shot off leader Bruce McDonald of Zimbabwe at the Leopard Creek Golf Course, tournament favourite Ernie Els played a slovenly back nine on Friday to shoot a three-over-par 75.

With the news that his three-week old daughter Ella was in hospital with bronchitis, Retief Goosen wanted to pack his bags and fly home to England on Wednesday night. But his wife, Tracy, encouraged him to play the tournament and the South African finished with a seven-under-par total of 281 to end up six shots clear of compatriot Ernie Els and Australian Stuart Appleby.

South African Davis Cup captain Kevin Curren acknowledges that the upcoming tie against Greece is a somewhat disappointing way for Wayne Ferreira to make his exit from professional tennis. Ferreira will spearhead the South African team in the Euro/African Zone Group One tie to be played in Pretoria from September 24 to 26.

South Africans Chris Haggard and Robbie Koenig made up for their disappointment at being left out of the Olympic team by winning the doubles title at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic in Washington on Sunday night. In June, the National Olympic Committee of South Africa refused to sanction the players’ entry in the Olympic Games.

One of the aims of the 2010 Soccer World Cup Organising Committee will be to ensure that South Africa are represented by a Bafana Bafana team that will make the country proud. This was confirmed on Tuesday by Irvin Khoza as the four-man Preparations Committee gave its first report back to the media.

An undisclosed number of referees were expected to be arrested over the next few days as police conclude their initial investigation into professional soccer match fixing, police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer confirmed on Sunday. ”We have made no arrests yet but are now in a position do so,” she said, explaining that this came after the South Africa Football Association (Safa) asked them to conduct an investigation two months ago.

Jeff Coetzee and Chris Haggard will not be lacking expertise in their corner when they take on the Slovakian doubles team at the Euro/Africa Zone Group One Davis Cup tie on Saturday. Pietie Norval, the 2000 world champion with American Don Johnson, has been brought in to work with the South African doubles pairing.

Estate agents will be chasing Andrew McLardy around the fairways and greens after he ran out a three-shot winner of the Tour Championship played at the Leopard Creek golf course. McLardy not only pocketed the winner’s cheque of R317 000 but also won the right to line up at the NEC Invitational to be played at Akron, Ohio.