SUN CITY, South Africa — Tommy FleetwoodHe saved his best for the last, shooting a final-round score of 67 to overcome his handicap and win the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Saturday. This ended a three-year drought of no wins.
The Englishman climbed from a tie for seventh overnight to finish at 11 under par overall, and win by one stroke from New Zealands. Ryan Fox(68), who had hoped to be at the top of the season rankings after a win in Sun City, but was unable to do so after making a bogey.
Fleetwood won in Sun City, 2019 but was the defending champion when the 2020 and 2021 tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He kept his cool when the others around him were losing their nerves on the final day, making four birdies in his first nine and rebounding from a No. bogey. 12 with an incredible eagle from the par-5 No. 14 when he was holed out of a bunker. He was the first player to make pars all the way home since his compatriot Lee WestwoodIn 2011, to win back to back titles at the Nedbank.
Fox was the leader in the first round after opening with a spectacular 64. He raised his hopes of winning in Sun City, and overtaking Rory McIlroyAt the top of the European rankings ahead the season-ending World Tour Championships in Dubai next week.
If it wasnt for the bogey five on Number. Fleetwood won thanks to 18 — his only round-winning bogey. McIlroy remains second in the season standings while Fox is second, and Fleetwood is fourth going to Dubai. McIlroy didnt play at the Nedbank Challenge.
Shubhankar Sharma(69) was the third.
Rasmus Højgaard Thomas DetryHojgaard had taken the third-round lead, but couldnt hold it through a rainy day. Højgaard carded a 4-over 76 to finish tied for eighth while Detrys final-round 77 saw him tumble to a share of 13th.
European Ryder Cup captain Luke DonaldAnother man was in the mix at the halfway point, but his quest for a first European or PGA Tour title after a decade ended over the weekend. He shot 73 and 75 in his final rounds to tie with Detry in 13th.
