Schwartzel cruises to second successive win

Johannesburg: South African Charl Schwartzel clinched back-to-back European Tour triumphs on Sunday when he posted a final-round 66 to win the Joburg Open by six strokes.

The 25-year-old from Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg, carded a 23-under-par total of 261 over the west and east courses at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Club seven days after topping the Africa Open leaderboard. Schwartzel became the first golfer to win consecutive tournaments on the European circuit since German Martin Kaymer lifted the French Open and Scottish Open trophies last July. A shot behind at the halfway stage of a tournament delayed several times since Thursday by rain, thunder and lightning, Schwartzel made his move on Saturday by shooting a 64 to enter the final round four shots clear.And he extended that to record a handsome win with none of his challengers for the 206,000-euro first prize able to match him over the par-71, 6,940-metre layout in a leafy upmarket suburb of the South African financial capital. Former Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland had a closing 68 to tie for second place with South African Keith Horne, whose 64 was the lowest final-day score.South African James Kamte and Danny Willett of England fired a 68 each to share third position on 270, nine shots adrift of five-time European Tour winner Schwartzel. A professional since 18 and previously a European winner in Scotland once and Spain twice, Schwartzel is now poised to make his US Masters debut at Augusta during April. The top 50 golfers on the world rankings qualify automatically and the Joburg Open victory could push the South African into the leading 40 depending on what happens on the US PGA tour this week. “I’m leading the European order of merit and I think winning the Joburg Open will get me into the Masters. That is something I am very excited about,” said Schwartzel. “It has been a fantastic two weeks for me. I played good golf last week in East London and the form definitely carried over. I do not know what it comes down to - maybe a positive frame of mind when I hit a bad shot.” There have not been many of those to worry about lately with Schwartzel 52-under for his last 11 competitive rounds and he goes to Abu Dhabi next seeking to match a 24-year record. It was back in 1986 that famous Spaniard Seve Ballesteros became the last golfer to win three successive European Tour events and with eight of the top 14 world stars competing it will be a major challenge for the South African. Bureau Report