South African Open: Andy Sullivan takes play-off victory after Charl Schwartzel's final-round collapse
Sunday 11 January 2015 17:36, UK
A final-round collapse from home favourite Charl Schwartzel saw Andrew Sullivan snatch the South African Open title in a dramatic play-off, to claim his first European Tour title.
Schwartzel led by five shots going into the final round, but could only manage a two-over-par 74 as his game fell apart on the final five holes.
The former Masters champion bogeyed the 14th and 17th, while three-putting the 16th for a double-bogey six left him tied with Sullivan on 11 under par.
The players returned to the 18th for a sudden-death play-off, with Sullivan producing a stunning recovery shot from the trees before putting the winning birdie from 10 feet.
Big surprise
Sullivan, who held a one-shot lead at halfway only to struggle to a third round of 74, began the day seven shots off the pace before a birdie on the 10th and an eagle on the 12th moved him 10-under.
The 28-year-old’s hopes looked over when a long birdie putt on the 18th fell inches short, but Schwartzel’s shaky finish meant that a five under 67 from the Englishman was enough to tie the leaderboard.
Best of the rest
Sheffield’s Matt Fitzpatrick was the first to close the gap on playing-partner Schwartzel to three when he birdied the second and fourth, only for the 20-year-old to run up a double-bogey six on the seventh.
The former US Amateur champion bounced back with a birdie on the next but dropped another shot on the ninth to lie eight under, before a triple-bogey on the 13th ended his hopes as he eventually finished tied-fifth on seven under.
Lee Slattery carded a closing 69 to finish third, with a bogey on the 18th from Pablo Martin Benavides leaving the Spaniard a further shot back.
