Louis Oosthuizen wins Volvo Golf Champions

Louis Oosthuizen made the perfect start to 2014 with a one-stroke victory over fellow South African Branden Grace in the Volvo Golf Champions at Durban Country Club in South Africa.

Oosthuizen held a one-shot advantage over Grace going into the final round but, when he bogeyed the 16th hole, the 2010 Open Champion fell one stroke behind his countryman, who birdied two of his last three holes to post a 68 and a clubhouse total of 11-under-par.

But Oosthuizen clearly wasn't rattled by his slip. He fired a fabulous approach in to two feet on the 17th, then played a delicate chip to the same distance on the short par-4 home hole to seal a one stroke win over Grace.

"After my tee shot on 16 I was lucky that I could chip it out and nearly made a great par," Oosthuizen said. "But when I stood over the ball on 17 I saw that Branden had made birdie on 18 so I knew that second shot was crucial to give myself a good opportunity and I hit it really close...

And then 18, everyone thinks you just need to make a birdie but around that green it's not easy and luckily I was far enough past where I could pitch it back into the grain and get it close...

It was nerve-wracking through the round but I finished strong and I'm just happy that I got it done. It's an awesome start for the year. Confidence-wise it's great...

I haven't really played well last year with all the injuries so hopefully I can build from here on and just go better next time."

England's Tommy Fleetwood held the lead going into the last round, but he slipped away with three bogeys in five holes from the fifth. He eventually finished with a level-par closing round of 72 to end the week in a tie for third with Joost Luiten of Holland.

"Today was the best I have hit it off the tee all week," he said. "Just a shame the rest of the game let me down. But you have to take the positives - I've finished third in the first event of the year so it's been a good week."

Padraig Harrington showed good form, closing with an excellent 67 to climb the leaderboard and finish in a tie for fifth with Frenchmen Victor Dubuisson and Raphael Jacquelin.

The European Tour travels to the Middle East next week for the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Volvo Golf Champions Durban Country Club, Durban, South Africa Jan 9-12, purse €2,926,000, par 72

1   Louis Oosthuizen (RSA)   68   69   71   68   276   €507,655 2   Branden Grace (RSA)   74   67   68   68   277   €326,349 T3   Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) 70   67   69   72   278   €174,053 T3   Joost Luiten (Ned)   70   67   70   71   278   €174,053 T5   Victor Dubuisson (Fra)   69   69   69   72   279   €116,761 T5   Padraig Harrington (Ire) 71   71   70   67   279   €116,761 T5   Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)   67   73   70   69   279   €116,761 T8   Thomas Aiken (RSA)   72   72   70   67   281   €81,043 T8   Julien Quesne (Fra)   74   73   66   68   281   €81,043 T10   Thomas Bjorn (Den)   79   68   67   69   283   €64,545 T10   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   72   67   73   71   283   €64,545 T10   Brett Rumford (Aus)   73   70   68   72   283   €64,545

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? PGA Tour - Jimmy Walker wins Sony Open