17 October 2006

South Africa's Retief Goosen achieved a career first at the weekend when he defended the Volkswagen China Masters title he won in 2005.

"The Goose" was in impressive form throughout the four rounds, opening with an eight-under-par 64, followed by a 65, a 67 and a closing round of 71. That left the South African a three-shot winner on 21-under-par 267.

Speaking after his victory, Goosen said: "It's a great feeling to defend a title. It's the first time I've won a professional title back to back. I've done it before as an amateur, so it will be great coming back next year to give myself a chance of making it a hat-trick."

First win since 2005 SAA Open
The victory was Goosen's first since he won the South African Airways Open in December 2005. It also lifted him above Ernie Els in the world rankings, into sixth place.

Goosen's win also came at a good time, a month-and-a-half ahead of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, where the SA star lifted the title in 2004.

His win was built around his middle two rounds, which gave him a five-shot lead heading into the final round, after he trailed Lu Wen-teh by one shot following the opening eighteen holes.

Looking back on his final round, the Goose reckoned an eight-foot par-saving putt on the par-five thirteenth hole, after he had found the water, was crucial to his success.

'An up-and-down day'
"It was an up-and-down day," he said. "I made a lot of bad mistakes. It was very frustrating as I felt I should have played a bit better, but at the end of the day you just want to finish ahead."

New Zealand's Michael Campbell, a major winner in the 2005 US Open, finished runner-up to Goosen for the second year in succession after rounds of 64, 68, 70, and 68, while Simon Dunn claimed third, four shots adrift on 271, after rounds of 68, 69, 66 and 68.

Looking back on his effort, Campbell felt his desperation to catch Goosen played into the South African's hands. The Kiwi ace said he pushed too hard too soon, which cost him a couple of bogeys in the opening holes.

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