CHARL Schwartzel returned from the longest break of his professional career to win the Tshwane Open by eight strokes at Pretoria Country Club on Sunday. The former Masters champion signed for a 63 and a total of 16 under par 264.
Denmark’s Jeff Winther, a Challenge Tour graduate, closed with an impressive 64 to take second place on eight under, while SA’s Anthony Michael took third place on six under.
Zander Lombard, Schwartzel’s nearest challenger at the start of the final round, slumped to a round of four-over-par 74 and a share of seventh place on four under.
Schwartzel is now a two-time winner on the European Tour this season following his victory in November’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, which forms part of the Tour’s 2016 season.
"This is what I was hoping for the first three rounds. I gave myself so many chances and if I had the putting stroke than that I did today, then it would’ve probably been my best tournament ever," said Schwartzel.
This ranks as one of the largest margins of victory in Schwartzel’s career. In 2012 he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship by 12 strokes, and the week before that won the Thailand Golf Championship by 11 strokes.
"I had a good feeling about the final round and from the word go I made a few good putts. It’s nice to putt everything together like I did today."
Schwartzel set the tone for his victory with a solid front nine. He went to the turn with two birdies and an eagle in four holes to give himself a four-shot cushion over Lombard going into the back nine.
Dean Burmester had made an incredible charge with five birdies in seven holes on the front nine to climb to eight under at the turn, but then made three consecutive bogeys on the back nine to fall away.
It was on the two par-threes on the back nine where Schwartzel put the title chase beyond any doubt.
On the 14th he rolled in a 40-footer for birdie in what became a two-shot swing as Lombard bogeyed the hole.
Then, on the 16th, he made a 30-footer for birdie while Lombard double-bogeyed the hole.
Any concerns Schwartzel had about his putting for most of this tournament were certainly eased with those two putts on the 16th.
"I’ve got such a good feeling about this year, and everything is falling into place. I’m excited," said Schwartzel, who now focuses on his PGA Tour season.