Leishman wins NGC by six strokes

Marc Leishman birdied his way to his maiden European Tour win at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Sunday.
The Australian was superb in the final round, carding a five under 67 which left him on 19 under for the event at the hot and steamy Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, six strokes ahead of Henrik Stenson.
Leishman started the day one stroke ahead of of Stenson after the Swede dropped two shots on the final holes on Saturday.
While his bogey on the third put Stenson back in the hunt, Leishman was simply sublime after his birdie on the par three seventh, rolling in six birdies over the next ten holes to surge ahead of the field.
While his iron shots into the greens on the 15th and 16th would do any golf highlights reel justice, it was Leishman's approach on on the par four 13th that stole the show, as his delightful 120 yard pitch fizzed off the putting surface and came to rest just two inches from the cup.
Stenson, in the meanwhile, did manage to go-toe-to-toe with Leishman in stretches, rolling in gains on the eighth, ninth and tenth. But a string of pars followed by a bogey on the 15th effectively ended his chances.
"I knew it was going to be a really tough day, I knew I had to play well," quipped the 32-year-old during the trophy presentation, where he picked up his winner's check for $1.25 million.
"He [Stenson] is an awesome player and I knew he'd make me earn it, which he did.
"I'm really pleased that I could play as well as I did and have a little bit of a buffer there at the end.
"Golf's a lot easier when you don't have to make up lost ground, especially on this golf course where there's trouble everywhere. I was really happy to not have too many bogeys. I definitely found out where the trouble was in the practice round."
England's Chris Wood finished on nine under par and alone in third, while Race to Dubai runner-up Danny Willett, Victor Dubuisson, Robert Sterb and South Africa's Branden Grace were all tied on eight under to finish tied for fourth.
Latest
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.
-
News
‘It’s inexcusable’ – Justin Thomas apologises for homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three was heard using the derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt.
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.