Gary Player - Westwood Holds On To Win Sun City Challenge Reuters

By Ken Borland

SUN CITY, South Africa Sun Dec 4, 2011 12:30pm EST

SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) - Defending champ Lee Westwood stored from the other domain to help win the particular Sun City Challenge simply by two swings on the Gary Player Country Club on Sunday.

Westwood started out the end daytime together with a seven-shot lead following course-record 62 he or she let go within the third round, nevertheless the Briton didn't develop the same sharpness to their online game on Sunday.

The rest belonging to the industry could not necessarily capitalise, however, with second-placed Swede Robert Karlsson's 68 staying the best score belonging to the fourth round, and Westwood may possibly manage for you to bogey the third two pockets to get a earn that ended up being much more convincing after that that scoreline suggests.

Westwood's final-round 73 discovered your ex finish on 15-under-par 273 with the tournament, getting the entire world amount three the particular winner's cheque involving $1.25 trillion inside 12-man invitational event.

The Englishman went in the the front nine throughout two-under-par having birdies in the par-four sixth along with par-five ninth openings seeing that he attained the actual switch with your five-stroke lead.

He told some sort of media conference: "Graeme McDowell became inside of some regarding me along with Robert Karlsson built a number of putts on its way in, however I played out conservatively.

"Sometimes I directed 25-30 paws extensive of the flags in addition to I had not been wary of your peculiar bogey simply because I believed this program was playing quite tough."

Northern Irishman McDowell attended four-under-par with regard to his round having a birdie with your par-five 10th, but his desires took a new dive that has a double-bogey along at the par-four 15th whenever his / her method of the eco-friendly gone way straight down a bank.

His first computer chip exclusively travelled halfway again and also his next chip seemed to be skiing on the efficient when this click the actual flag plus rebounded 25 legs in the hole.

Karlsson's 68 was a new stable round, however he fought in order to produce this momentum essential to difficult task Westwood, although American Jason Dufner shot some sort of 69 in addition to ended up simply just three pictures behind the leader as soon as he / she attained the actual 15th tee.

But he or she paid the price for putting his or her drive inside thick African bush, their minute chance getting a flyer and finishing effectively correct in the green, resulting to a double-bogey.

Dufner advertised bowl third place on 11-under alongside McDowell.

South Korea's Kim Kyung-tae Kim shot his last effective 70 that will complete an amazing first go to for you to South Africa inside fifth position with eight-under-par. South Africa's Charl Schwartzel done sixth on six-under.

Westwood will be sixth golfer to preserve his / her bill at Sun City, following inside actions associated with Seve Ballesteros (1984), David Frost (1990), Nick Price (1998), Ernie Els (2000) in addition to Jim Furyk (2006).

The 38-year-old mentioned he or she thought convenient at the Gary Player Country Club than on almost all courses.

"It's a location I've continually played out well in addition to it's a wonderful event in order to win," your dog told reporters. "You've only obtained look at the brands about the trophy and for the go walking to be able to your ninth natural to see that.

"It's arranged upwards such as an essential tournament course, you need to always be real specific over tee and, if you are distance-control is usually good, you can easily set up numerous birdies."

No one has gained three Sun City Challenge titles in a row along with Westwood said: "Obviously I'm re-occurring subsequently following year."

The past universe number one currently goes on into the Dubai World Championship where he has completed first and finally inside the final two years.

"There's nothing like winning to provide you self-assurance plus I'd such as and keep that push going. I've played well on in which study course too," Westwood said.

(Editing by Dave Thompson )