Tommy Fleetwood beat Marcus Kinhult in a play-off to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa and put himself in contention to top the Race to Dubai rankings for the second time in three years.
The 28 year old from Southport started the final round at Gary Player Country Club six strokes off the lead, but flew up the leaderboard after three birdies and the first of an incredible three eagles before the turn. He then eagled the tenth, and after dropped shots on 12 and 13, birdied 14 and 15 to sign for a 65 and a 12 under par today.
Sweden’s Kinhult started three strokes behind overnight leader Zander Lombard and made a crucial birdie at 15 to join Fleetwood on 12 under, setting up a play-off for the $2.5m first prize.
On the first extra hole, Kinhult had to play out sideways after a poor tee shot, eventually settling for bogey, while Fleetwood made an excellent up and down to save par and tapped in from three feet for the biggest winner’s prize in European Tour history and his fifth title.
The win moves the Englishman to second place on the Race to Dubai in his bid to be named European No.1 for the second time at next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
Fleetwood, who had yet to win this season, said:“It’s been a long time coming, and I’m not one to complain, but I really did want to win something. It’s just the best feeling and I feel happy that it’s been my time this week.
“Today was one of the best rounds of my career, for sure. I would have liked to keep those couple of bogeys off the card, but like the way I played and the way I handled myself mentally. I had a bit of luck in the playoff with the tee shot, but it all goes together with just such an amazing day.”
He added: “It’s great to go into next week with a chance to win the Race to Dubai. Everybody starts the season hoping to get to Dubai, and to be one of the guys that can actually finish at the top is very special.”
Current rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger finished in a share of third alongside Thomas Detry and Jason Scrivener, who both moved inside the top 50 to secure their places at Jumeirah Golf Estates next week. Defending champion Lee Westwood and home favourite Louis Oosthuizen shared sixth, while Robert MacIntyre took the lead again in the race for the Rookie of the Year title, finishing in eighth place alongside Lombard.