Australia’s Marc Leishman cruised to a six-shot victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa with an impressive five-under-par 67 in the final round to finish a turbulent year on a high.
The 32 year old’s wife was seriously ill in April – he had to leave the Masters to be by her side – and he lost an uncle, while on the course he was beaten in a play-off for The Open Championship in July. But, having taken a one shot lead into the last round at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, he produced a wonderful back nine to hold off Henrik Stenson and win by six strokes with a 19 under par total.
Stenson, who was bed-bound with a virus in the build-up to the event, closed with a level par 72, while Chris Wood rose into third place with a 68.
“Golf’s a lot easier when you don’t have to make up lost ground, especially on this golf course where there’s trouble everywhere,” said the winner. “I knew it was going to be a really tough day. Henrik is an awesome player, and I knew he’d make me earn it, which he did. I’m really pleased that I could play as well as I did, and have a little bit of a buffer at the end.
“I’m pretty happy to have this year over, to be honest. It tops off what was otherwise not a great year. Three weeks ago we moved into a new house, so this will help pay for that.”
Stenson, was left to rue another near miss, in what has been a winless season for the world No.7. “With the chances I’ve had this year, to be winless is a little disappointing, but all in all it’s been a solid year, and I’ve got to look at the the amount of world ranking points I’ve earned. Of course, I’d like to be holding the trophy, but Marc played really solidly and shot five under on a tricky day. All credit to him for the win – he’s a deserving champion.”