Golf: Schwartzel so pleased to be winner again

CHARL SCHWARTZEL was thrilled to end a run of near-misses by beginning 2010 with victory in the Africa Open yesterday.

The 25-year-old South African, the highest-ranked player in the field at 66 and one of the favourites heading into the tournament, ended his four rounds with a total of 272 – 20-under overall – after opening scores of 67, 70 and 68.

A six-under final round 67 enabled him to finish one stroke clear of co-overnight leader Thomas Aiken, who faltered with an under-pressure birdie putt on the 18th.

The victory handed Schwartzel a fourth triumph on the European Tour to go with those at the 2005 Alfred Dunhill Championship, the 2007 Open de Espana and the 2008 Madrid Masters.

He was pleased to end his winless run, which saw him go through the entire 2009 season without a victory despite seven top-ten finishes.

"This was a special place to be these past few days," said the Johannesburg-born player.

"I think I dropped just five shots the whole week. I really just needed a little bit of luck.

"I played so well last year and never got my hands on a trophy.

"I have been playing well and when I shot 70 on Friday I had no luck at all. Who knows what that round could have been?

"It's not a bad way to start the year, straight out of the bushveldt on to the golf course and I get a trophy."

Stephen Gallacher, who missed the cut in East London, will be joined in this week's Joburg Open by David Drysdale and Andrew Coltart as they make their first appearances of 2010.