Joy in Joburg for Hansen

Hansen: Crucial birdie putt at the par-five 18th

I thought 15 under was going to be the winning score, so I was right

Anders Hansen
Quotes of the week

Joburg Open
Final leaderboard
SA unless stated
-15 A Hansen (Den)
-14 A McLardy
-13 D Drysdale (Sco)
-12 C Schwartzel
-12 T Van Aswegen
-12 D Willett (Eng)

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• EuroTour Schedule
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• Golf live on Sky Sports

An impressive final round of 66 proved enough for Anders Hansen to clinch the Joburg Open by one shot.

The Dane managed five birdies on the front nine but it was his four at the par-five 18th the proved crucial, as he set the pace in the clubhouse at 15-under.

Rather than watch the final group come down the last, Hansen headed out to the driving range to prepare for the possibility of a play-off.

However, he had no need to worry when nearest rival Andrew McLardy was unable to find the birdie he needed to move level at the top of the leaderboard.

Second again

The South African paid the price for a wayward tee shot and when a long putt failed to find the cup he knew he would have to settle for second, just as he had done in the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event in 2007.

McLardy had started the day in a three-way tie for the lead alongside David Drysdale and Charl Schwartzel, but Hansen soon moved ahead.

The 38-year-old, who had amazingly been three over through 10 holes in his first round, went out in a sizzling 31 before cooling off on the back nine.

Although he was unable to convert an eagle chance at the final hole, Hansen's three-foot putt for a birdie proved enough to secure the title.

"It means a lot to win obviously - because that's of course what we're here for," he said after clinching the third title of his career.

"Especially after the first day where the first two holes I started double bogey-bogey and I was thinking 'what is this'? But I turned that round around and got off to a flying start the second day.

"I couldn't keep it going, but that sort of helped me put things into perspective thinking about the next day.

"I thought I needed to keep the third round going and again got off to a good start. And then today I thought I had to come out and shoot five under. I thought 15 under was going to be the winning score, so I was right."

Late birdies

Drysdale picked up two shots at the 16th and 17th to finish out on his own in third place on 13-under at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

The Scot ended one clear of playing partner Schwartzel, who followed up Saturday's 63 with a patchy 70, as well as Tyrone van Aswegen and former world amateur number one Danny Willett.

Retief Goosen endured a nightmare 17 holes before producing the shot of the day at the 18th when his second went in for a rare albatross.

The stunning finish meant the home favourite, who had been just one shot off the pace going into Sunday, could afford a smile despite carding nine bogeys, including four in succession after the turn, in his score of 74.