Image: RICHARD HEATHCOTE
Branden Grace sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to set up victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City yesterday as he carded a blistering final round 66 to win by a single shot from Briton Scott Jamieson.
The 29-year-old came from three shots back overnight at the Gary Player Country Club for an 11-under-par total of 277, an eighth European Tour victory and a $1.25-million (R17.96-million) purse in the penultimate event of the season.
Grace is the first home winner of South Africa's biggest tournament - dubbed Africa's Major - since Trevor Immelman a decade ago, after going out in 33 yesterday and sinking three more birdies on the back nine for a six-under-par round.
Jamieson, 33, had a one-shot lead after Saturday but ended on 278 following a final round 70, which included a double bogey at the eighth hole.
Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was third. The second-round leader had started seven under par and picked up two more shots yesterday with a final round 70. Chinese golfer Li Haotong recorded the best round of the tournament yesterday, storming up the leader board to fourth, with a 64.
It was Grace's first tournament win since he enjoyed success on the PGA Tour in South Carolina some 18 months ago.
"It's a dream come true to win. It was a hard weekend for South African sports fans but luckily this can put a couple of smiles on faces," he said.
South Africa's soccer team was eliminated from World Cup qualification on Friday, while the Springbok rugby side suffered a 38-3 thrashing at the hands of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
"I felt if I could go bogey free today I would have a chance. I drove well all week and it allowed me to be aggressive when I needed to be and it paid off," Grace added.