Furyk wins Sun City Challenge in four-man playoff

By Craig Ray

SUN CITY, South Africa (Reuters) – America’s Jim Furyk
chipped in for birdie on the second extra hole of a
sudden-death playoff to win the 25th Sun City Golf Challenge at
the Gary Player Country Club on Sunday.

Furyk sank his third shot from 15-feet from the back of the
par-four 18th green to beat off Briton Darren Clarke and
Australia’s Adam Scott and capture the $1.2 million first
prize.

Four players, including 2004 winner Retief Goosen, had
contested the playoff after completing 72 holes in six-under
282. Goosen went out on the first extra hole after a bogey.

Furyk, who started the day on six-under and one-stroke
behind leaders Tim Clark of South Africa, Argentine Angel
Cabrera and Scott, carded a final round 72, which included a
bogey on the 18th.

Cabrera, who set a course record 64 on Friday, returned a
disappointing 80 to drop out of contention on a difficult day
for scoring with breezes and tough pin-positions.

Northern Ireland’s Clarke seemed to be out of the running
but finished strongly with a birdie at the 16th and then holed
a wedge from 110 yards for birdie at 17th.

That was enough to get him into the playoff after carding
69 — one of only two players to return a sub-70 round.

Scott shot 73 and Goosen 72, underlining the difficulty the
players had with scoring over the 7,800-yard course.

The 35-year-old Furyk was the most consistent performer in
the early stages of the final round and he went out in 34
strokes to lead the field by two shots at one stage.

But bogeys on the par-three 12th, the par-four 15th and the
18th saw him slip back to the field.

Four years ago Furyk disqualified himself from the
tournament after realizing he had made a mistake during a round
when he lifted and placed his ball against regulations.

His gesture to continue playing the last two rounds despite
not being able to place in the field endeared him to the South
African fans and he was a popular winner.

Ernie Els, making his first tournament appearance since the
British Open in July following knee surgery, finished ninth in
the 12-man field on two-over 290 after a closing 75.