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Henrik Stenson ends winless 2015 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge

Henrik Stenson couldn't close down Marc Leishman during the final round
Image: Henrik Stenson could not close down Marc Leishman during the final round

Henrik Stenson feels he can take plenty of positives from a ‘solid’ year playing on the European Tour and PGA Tour, despite ending 2015 without a victory.

The Swede had to settle for a sixth runner-up finish of the year at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, with a final-round 72 leaving him six shots adrift of Marc Leishman.

Stenson, the highest ranked player in the field, had held a three-shot lead during the third round and maintained pressure on Leishman with a three-birdie run around the turn on Sunday, only to fall away along the back nine.

The world No 7 had only given himself a five per cent chance of playing this week after being bed-bound with flu for three days, but was still left frustrated not to finish closer to the top of the leaderboard.

"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," Stenson told reporters. "I've got to look at the good results, the amount of world ranking points and all the rest of it.

Stenson's last victory came at the 2014 DP World Tour Championship
Image: Stenson's last victory came at the 2014 DP World Tour Championship

"Of course I'd like to be holding the trophy, and I had a nice chance here. Marc played really solidly and shot five under on a tricky day. All credit to him for the win, he's a deserving champion.

"I'm ready to get some rest after a long season. I'll have knee surgery in Orlando on Wednesday and hopefully the recovery will go well and I'll be ready for Abu Dhabi [in January]."

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Highlights from the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge

Leishman took a one-shot lead into the final round at Gary Player CC and gave himself a convincing lead at the top of the leaderboard with four birdies in a seven-hole stretch.

The Australian has had an emotional 2015 and was prepared to give up the sport after his wife Audrey fell seriously ill with toxic shock syndrome, but has finished the year on a high with a maiden European Tour victory.

Leishman carded a round-of-the-day 67 to secure his first victory since 2012
Image: Leishman carded a round-of-the-day 67 to secure his first victory since 2012

"I'm pretty happy to have this year over, to be honest," the 32-year-old said. "Audrey got very sick and I lost an uncle who I was very close to. This tops off what was otherwise not a great year.

"It's amazing. I'm so happy. It's not very often you can walk up 18 with a good cushion and enjoy it.

European Tour Golf

"I knew it was going to be a really tough day, I knew I had to play well. Henrik's 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 there at the end.

"I was really happy to not have too many bogeys (just three all week). I definitely found out where the trouble was in the practice round!"

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