Dominant Schwartzel wins Tshwane Open

The South African finished eight clear of Denmark's Jeff Winther in Pretoria

Charl Schwartzel wins Tshwane Open
Charl Schwartzel wins Tshwane Open
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
By
published

A dominant Charl Schwartzel claimed the Tshwane Open title by eight shots from Denmark’s Jeff Winther. It was his second win of the year on the European Tour.

Charl Schwartzel, who started the day just one shot clear at Pretoria Country Club, romped home with a superb 63 to take the Tshwane Open title at a canter. He raced to the turn in 31 with three birdies and an eagle on his front nine. The 2011 Masters champion wasn’t troubled on the run for home and he picked up further shots at the 12th, 14th, 16th and 18th holes to win by eight.

Jeff Winther of Denmark finished in second place after an excellent final round of 64.

3 Talking points from the Tshwane Open

1 – A dominant Charl Schwartzel claimed an eighth European Tour title on South African soil. It was his 11th European Tour victory overall and his second of the season, following his win in the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The victory should see him move back into the top-30 on the Official World Golf Ranking. Schwartzel has finished inside the top-10 in each of his last four European Tour starts. He has now earned more than €15 million during his time on the circuit.

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2 – It was a day to remember for Denmark’s Jeff Winther. He started the day seven shots off the lead but set the clubhouse target at 8-under-par after a 64 that included a front nine of 30. This is the Dane’s first full year on the main tour after he secured a spot through the Challenge Tour in 2015. Until this event the 27-year-old had struggled to make an impact. He missed three cuts and then retired from the Commercialbank Qatar Masters. In gaining second place in this event he earned almost €120,000 and has gone almost half way to securing playing rights for 2017.

3 – Zander Lombard didn’t enjoy such good fortune on Sunday in Pretoria. The talented 21-year-old has enjoyed great form in the European Tour events he’s played in so far this year with a fourth in the Australian PGA Championship and a second place in the Joburg Open. The young South African hoped to go one better than that this week as he went into the final round just a shot behind his countryman Schwartzel. But, Lombard faltered on the run for home. He dropped five shots in his last five holes to fall back into a tie for seventh place. Even so, Lombard looks to be one to watch for 2016.

Tshwane Open Pretoria Country Club, Waterkloof, South Africa Feb 11-14 Purse €1,000,000, par 70 1    Charl Schwartzel (RSA)    71    64    66    63    264    €163,687 2    Jeff Winther (Den)    73    66    69    64    272    €118,763 3    Anthony Michael (RSA)    64    69    71    70    274    €71,464 T4    Dean Burmester (RSA)    70    68    68    69    275    €43,306 T4    Richard Sterne (RSA)    68    70    69    68    275    €43,306 T4    Justin Walters (RSA)    71    68    71    65    275    €43,306 T7    Zander Lombard (RSA)    72    67    63    74    276    €26,059 T7    Jamie McLeary (Sco)    68    70    69    69    276    €26,059 T7    Brett Rumford (Aus)    75    67    68    66    276    €26,059 T10    Haydn Porteous (RSA)    70    66    68    73    277    €18,658 T10    Brandon Stone (RSA)    71    70    70    66    277    €18,658 T10    Jaco Van Zyl (RSA)    66    72    72    67    277    €18,658

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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