Lee Westwood wins Nedbank Golf Challenge

England’s Lee Westwood cruised to victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. The World Number 1 finished eight shots clear of Tim Clark.

Lee Westwood

England's Lee Westwood cruised to victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa. The World Number 1 finished eight shots clear of Tim Clark.

Westwood was on imperious form through the week and he never looked threatened as he compiled a superb final round of 68 over the Gary Player Country Club course.

The Englishman's only bogey of the day came on the 17th hole, but he made up for it with an incredible chip-in on the final hole to close out the tournament. The victory earned Westwood a cheque for almost £800,000.

"That's what you call a grandstand finish," he said. "I think that's the first time I chipped in all year.

Tim Clark, who began the day five shots behind Westwood, struggled to mount an early challenge as he went to the turn in one-over-par 37. Birdies at the 10th and 11th improved his card but they came too late to put any pressure on Westwood. In the end, the South African was fortunate to finish alone in second on nine-under-par.

For a time it looked as though Retief Goosen would secure the runner's up position. He played some great golf to be four-under-par through his first 10 holes. But he couldn't make any further progress and ended the day one shot behind Clark in a tie for third with Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain.

Ross Fisher of England had a difficult weekend. He trailed Westwood by just three shots after Friday's play, but rounds of 73 then 75 saw him fall away to finish in a tie for fifth with Ernie Els.

Padraig Harrington also closed with a disappointing 75 and he finished in a tie for seventh with defending champion Robert Allenby. Justin Rose and Anders Hansen were tied for ninth with Edoardo Molinari 11th and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen in 12th.

Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly. 

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?