Rory's slip-up hands SA Open victory to Storm

16 January 2017 - 09:57 By Liam Del Carme
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HOT FAVOURITE: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his ball during a warm up on the driving range for the South African Open which starts at the Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg today Picture:
HOT FAVOURITE: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his ball during a warm up on the driving range for the South African Open which starts at the Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg today Picture:
Image: GETTY IMAGES

The SA Open finished in dramatic fashion yesterday when tournament favourite Rory McIlroy missed a 1m putt to hand the title to Englishman Graeme Storm.

Both players finished on 18-under before playing the first two holes in a sudden death play-off in regulation.

Storm, who had led from the second round, was rewarded for remarkable consistency with a R2.3-million cheque.

It was the unheralded golfer's first win of note since 2007, when he won the French Open.

Earlier, just when it looked like McIlroy had subdued Storm's challenge, the Northern Irishman let the Englishman back in.

McIlroy found the greenside bunker on the 17th and his first attempt to extricate himself failed as the ball trickled back into the sand trap. The "oohs" and "aahs" from the gallery revealed the gravity of the situation.

McIlroy had to settle for a bogey, but so, too, did Englishman Jordan Smith, which effectively killed off his challenge with one hole to play.

McIlroy and Storm both made pars on the 72nd hole to force a play-off. McIlroy had wiped out the three-shot deficit Storm held over him at the start of the final round with a closing 68.

Storm managed a 71. Smith finished on 17 under, to miss out on a play-off berth by a shot.

It was an amazing turnaround for Storm, 38, who narrowly avoided losing his right to play on the European Tour this season.

"I am in shock," Storm said after winning a competition first staged in 1893, and the second-oldest national golf championship after the British Open.

"This is a dream come true after nearly losing my tour card. The whole experience this week has been incredible," he said.

TMG Digital, AFP

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