An Aussie first at Nedbank Challenge
7 December 2009
The 18th hole had given Robert Allenby trouble throughout the Nedbank Golf Challenge but, on Sunday, when he finally found the green in his seventh attempt at it, he edged out defending champion Henrik Stenson in a sudden death playoff for the title.
Allenby and Stenson had finished the regulation 72 holes on 11-under-par 277. It then took them three attempts at the 18th before they could be separated.
After Allenby found the green with his approach for the first time in the tournament, he two-putted to take victory after Stenson had struck a difficult downhill chip 25 feet past the hole and then over-hit his return attempt.
Australia
Allenby became the first Australian to win the prestigious title, a feat that none of Greg Norman, David Graham, Craig Parry, Steve Elkington and Stuart Appelby had managed before him.
"I thought we were going to be there all night," he said. "But I'm proud to be the first Australian to win this title, and I knew once Henrik pushed his approach out right, I had a chance if I could hit the green in regulation."
Allenby went one-under for the final round, posting a 71, to overtake overnight leader Retief Goosen, who had started two shots ahead of him.
He had a shot at winning it comfortably in regulation after he birdied the 17th, but his inability to find the 18th green saw him bogey the hole, which forced him to replay it in the playoff.
Goosen implodes
It was Goosen's tournament to lose after he started the day two ahead of Allenby. Unfortunately for the South African, he managed to do just that as his game fell apart down in the inward nine.
It began on the 14th where a fairway wood skewed left into the dense bush. Goosen was unsuccessful in his attempt to get out of the rough, and then had to take a drop because of an unplayable lie.
Incredibly, he nearly sank what looked like an impossible chip; his ball found the hole, but bounced out and rolled past the pin. He then made his return putt for bogey.
Although Goosen had an opportunity to birdie the 17th, he was fractionally adrift and the chance to get back into contention was lost.
He finished with a 75, on nine-under-par 279, in fifth-place.
Best round
It was a tough day for everyone, and defending champion Stenson shared the best round of the day a three-under 69.
South Africa's Tim Clark also shot a 69 to get himself into a share of third with Ross Fisher of England, who closed with a 70.
US Masters' champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina began the day in contention for victory, but struggled to a 75 to finish in sixth place.
American Nick Watney, after equalling the course with a superb nine-under-par 63 in the third round, carded his third 73 of the tournament to take sixth on 282.
Sadly, rising star Rory McIlroy withdrew before the third round. He had battled through the first two rounds despite a stomach ailment. No doubt, though, with his talent, he will be invited back to the Nedbank Challenge in the future.
Scores
SAinfo reporter
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