Wednesday 2 December 2015 16:34, UK
Charl Schwartzel celebrated a record-breaking fourth victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at his favourite venue on the European Tour.
Schwartzel overcame an indifferent front nine in the final round with three birdies in four holes after the turn before he closed out a solid three-under 69 to earn a comfortable four-shot victory over Gregory Bourdy.
The 31-year-old claimed his maiden professional win at Leopard Creek in December 2004 and he also won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, but he finished 17 shots adrift of compatriot Branden Grace last season.
But Schwartzel has now become the first South African to win the same European Tour event four times, while he is also the youngest to win 10 titles - eclipsing Ernie Els, who was a year older when he reached double figures at the 2002 Dubai Desert Classic.
The 2011 Masters champion had slipped to 50th in the world rankings after a lean 2015 campaign, but his hard work off the course paid off and he is expected to return to the top 40 when the rankings are updated on Monday.
"It feels good," he said. "The way I've played the last few years, I've been down in quite a slump, I didn't really see myself coming out and winning. But we've put in so much hard work in the last 18 months and it's frustrating when week-in, week-out you're playing and it feels like it's never going to turn.
"I guess there's no better fit than for it to turn around here. This place has treated me really well. I got my first win here and now my 10th so I think it's pretty fitting. I wish we could play some majors here. It's definitely my favourite place, I love coming here and the golf course."
Schwartzel's overnight three-shot lead was whittled down to one when he laboured to the turn one over for the final day, but he pitched and putted for birdies at 11 and 13 before draining a 25-foot putt for another at 14 which put him four clear of the chasing pack.
"It turned on the back nine, I felt more comfortable today," he added. "My chipping was really fantastic on the weekend and that's what got it going. I made birdie on 11 and 13 and 14.
"I knew I was going to have to shoot at least two or three under on the back nine to give myself a good chance of winning and I'm very happy with that. Once I saw the leaderboard on 16 then I felt comfortable and I knew it was up to me not to make any mistakes."
