Schwartzel storms to eight-shot win at Tshwane Open

File photo of Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, pictured on Oct 16, 2015. (AFP/Cliff Hawkins)

PRETORIA: Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel stormed to a sensational eight-shot triumph at the Tshwane Open on Sunday (Feb 14) to claim his 11th career title and second of 2016.

The 31-year-old South African shot a seven-under-par 63 to finish on 16 under and clinch his eighth European Tour win on home soil. Denmark's Jeff Winther finished second on eight under, with South Africa's Anthony Michael another two shots further back in third.

"In the first three rounds I gave myself so many chances. If I had the stroke I had today, it probably would have been my best tournament ever," said Schwartzel, who was delighted with his putting in the final round at the Pretoria Country Club.

"It's just frustrating when you don't putt very well and you don't convert, and to make the putts when it counts, that's even more satisfying.

"Everything is sort of falling into place. I've worked really hard leading up to this and it's just been feeling good, so everything has got some really good signs, so I'm excited," he told www.europeantour.com.

Schwartzel started the final round with just a one-shot lead but soon moved to 10 under par when he rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at the second.

Although he dropped a shot at the third, he was still four strokes ahead of nearest challenger Zander Lombard after birdies at the sixth and seventh. An eagle at the ninth helped him reach the turn in 31.

Schwartzel then suffered a second bogey of the day at the 11th, which took him back to 12 under. But his experience told as another birdie followed at the 12th before a monster 40-foot putt at the 14th took him to 14 under.

Schwartzel saved par at the 15th before another birdie at the 16th to reach 15 under. A par at the 17th followed before he finished in style with a short birdie putt at the last. Lombard eventually fell away and hit a final round 74 to finish 12 shots off the pace.