Lee Westwood fired a bogey-free round of 8-under 64 to capture the title in Sun City, South Africa at the 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The 45-year old Englishman entered his final day at Gary Player Country Club three off the pace of Sergio Garcia, but after an eagle on No. 2 and a birdie on No. 8, Westwood turned in 33 and holding a share of the lead alongside his Spanish rival, who was even par through nine holes.
Garcia appeared to have righted the ship with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 to edge ahead by a shot, but Westwood then reeled off four birdies in a five-hole stretch (Nos. 13-17) to finish three clear of the Spaniard at 15-under par
Westwood, whose last victory came at the 2014 Maybank Malaysian Open, was fighting back the tears after making his way to the winner’s circle for the first time in over four years.
“I’m a bit emotional, to be honest,” said Westwood, the former world No. 1, who had fallen all the way down to 119th. “You’re never sure whether you’re going to be able to do it again.
“Until now my emotions have felt really under control all day which is what I’ve been working hard on. I was just trying to hit fairways and stick to my game-plan and hit it in the right places.
“I’ve got a bit of a process that I’m going through with my golf swing and I’m starting to see better shots. The seven iron into 17 is probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit.”
Garcia, who closed with six-straight pars, signed for a 70 to finish at 12 under, one shot ahead of Louis Oosthuizen (69).
England’s Ross Fisher (70) was then at 8 under, a shot clear of compatriot Matt Wallace (67) and China’s Li Haotong (65).
2018 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE
FINAL-ROUND TOP 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Today)
1. Lee Westwood -15 (-8)
2. Sergio Garcia -12 (-2)
3. Louis Oosthuizen -11 (-3)
4. Ross Fisher -8 (-2)
5. Haotong Li -7 (-7)
5. Matt Wallace -7 (-5)
TOP-3 CHECK CASHERS
1. Lee Westwood – $1,250,000
2. Sergio Garcia – $832,750
3. Louis Oosthuizen – $469,250
ROUND-BY-ROUND
ROUND 1
1. Sergio Garcia -8
2. Mike Lorenzo-Vera -4
2. Mikko Korhonen -4
2. Charl Schwartzel -4
13. Lee Westwood -1
ROUND 2
1. Sergio Garcia -9
2. Louis Oosthuizen -8
3. Mikko Korhonen -6
4. Lee Westwood -4
ROUND 3
1. Sergio Garcia -10
2. Louis Oosthuizen -8
3. Lee Westwood -7
3. Mikko Korhonen -7
3. Thomas Detry -7
ROUND 4
1. Lee Westwood -15
2. Sergio Garcia -12
3. Louis Oosthuizen -11
WESTWOOD’S WINNING STATS
Driving: 317.8 yards (26th)
Fairways: 29/56, 51.8% (34th)
Greens: 55/72, 76.4% (4th)
Putts/GIR: 1.639 (1st)
Scoring: 1 Eagle, 23 Birdies, 39 Pars, 7 Bogeys, 2 Double
