Goosen holds out Els to win South African Open
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2005 South African Airways Open | Wrap | 19 Dec 2005
In what developed into a gripping final day duel between the number four and five golfers in the world, Retief Goosen has edged out Ernie Els to win his second South African Open.
Goosen had taken a three shot lead over Els into the final day but an opening hole bogey by the leader and two early birdies by Els saw the margin reduced to just one through four holes. Another birdie by Els at the eighth hole had the pair on level pegging before Goosen answered with a birdie of his own at the ninth to move one ahead at the turn.
The crucial shot of the day and the tournament came perhaps at the par four 12th when Els pulled his second from the fairway into the hazard, just left of the green and only eight yards from the hole. He drew a bad lie with the drop and took double bogey and Goosen was back where he started the day with a lead of three. Surely Goosen could not lose from here? Well he nearly did.
Els regrouped from his disastrous adventures on the 12th to birdie the 14th, 15th and 16th to draw level again. At the 17th Goosen showed he was up to the challenge being thrown down by Els when he chipped in from behind the green to open up a one shot cushion playing the par five last. Both players drove well and Goosen was first to play his second and finished just over the back of the par five green in two. Els, needing to make birdie at worst, hit a superb approach to around six feet and now the pressure was well and truly on Goosen.
If he did not get up and down for birdie he could well lose it here with a possible two shot swing, should Els hole his very makeable eagle chance. Again Goosen would rally to the cause with a fine chip to three feet and when Els missed his eagle, Goosen needed only to hole his putt to win by one. He did both.
So far ahead of the rest of the field were Goosen and Els that after just a few holes it was only ever going to be a two horse race for the title. At the finish, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and South African Darren Fichardt shared third, seven shots behind Els. They were the only four players to break par on the magnificent and demanding Fancourt Links layout.
For Goosen it completed yet another magnificent year. This was his fourth win of the year on top of victories at the International in the US, the Volkswagen Masters in China and the Linde German Masters and takes his total of career wins worldwide to twenty five.
For Els, who was the subject of much speculation as to the dangers on an early return from knee surgery, it further justifies his decision to comeback when he did. He has now had a win and a runner up in his three events back and with a few weeks off to rest the knee further it is a fair bet to assume when he does return once again to competitive golf he will quickly become the force he was when he left the scene last August.
Only two Australians, Matthew Millar and David Brandson, and one New Zealander, Stephen Scahill, played the event with all three missing the cut.
The next event on the European Tour schedule will be the Royal Trophy event between Asia and Europe to be played in Thailand in early January.
Photo – Anthony Powter
