Putting masterclass gives Coetzee win, Poulter’s protege breaks through
So what happened at the Tshwane Open?
Pretoria Country Club member George Coetzee won his second Tshwane title after recovering brilliantly from a slow start on a stop-start day.
Two early bogeys saw Finn Mikko Korhonen overhaul his two-shot lead but he then turned on the putting style with seven birdies in his last 13 holes for a two-shot win.
The South African (67) carded a 67 to beat Sam Horsfield, who birdied the last three holes, by two with Korhonen in third.
The victory is Coetzee’s fourth on the European Tour – all have come on home soil – and his second on his home course.
The big moments came at the 11th when Coetzee holed from 30 feet and there was a two-shot swing on Korhonen at the 15th.
The lead was two playing the last after a Coetzee bogey and Horsfield’s burst but a par four meant he was home and hosed.
Best Quote
“On the 8th hole I started making everything, me and the greens became one. That really made it easier for me to not worry so much about where I’m hitting it,” George Coetzee
Talking Point
A lot is expected of Sam Horsfield, the winner at Q School and someone Ian Poulter has touted for greatness for a while, and he now has a runners-up finish to his name.
The 21-year-old came through all three stages at Q School before winning at Lumine by eight shots but he has failed to really spark since.
He made the semi-finals of the World Super 6 Perth but has missed five cuts in seven starts since getting his card. This week he threw in a 64 on Saturday and finished brilliantly to collect over €100,000.
“It was a great experience being in my first final group,” he said. “George is a great guy, we got talking a little bit out there. Being in a group with someone who is really nice kind of settled me down a little bit early on and I had a blast out there.”
Horsfield went into the week ranked 754th in the world, expect him to finish 2018 in much better shape.
Moments of the Week
The crowds enjoyed that one ?
Home-favourite Coeztee edges ahead#TshwaneOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/m9xhT8M6E8
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 4, 2018
Taking the lead in style ?#TshwaneOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/PuraiHaWuZ
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 4, 2018
Look. At. That. Scorecard.
Take a bow @yetpit ?#TshwaneOpen2018 pic.twitter.com/WN2XOheAVF
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 4, 2018
Best Tweets
Too long for the range?
Better warm up in the nets ??#TshwaneOpen pic.twitter.com/CnaQEc0FQC
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) March 4, 2018
Just got home from a solid week at the Tshwane Open to find a welcome home surprise. Had to get the clubs back out to help put it back in the bushes ? #noteverydaythathappens #snakesinthecity pic.twitter.com/ADYFbQ42cQ
— Justin J Walters (@jwaltersgolf) March 4, 2018
Best Stats
And here's another 62! Great final round and super finish from @yetpit at the #TshwaneOpen in Pretoria… pic.twitter.com/igYy5wU3zq
— Nosferatu (@VC606) March 4, 2018
A great win for @gcoetzeegolf at the #TshwaneOpen2018. Currently projected to move back inside the top 100 (#98) in #OWGR. ??
— Nosferatu (@VC606) March 4, 2018
‘Four months after shooting a 59 I gave up the game’
Is heckling acceptable now in golf?
Honest, insightful, sarcastic and smutty – what’s not to love about Eddie Pepperell?
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
