Just as Louis Oosthuizen was losing his grip on the Champions golf title in Shanghai, fellow South African Charl Schwartzel was regaining his.
But neither man took charge of this title in way that Martin Kaymer did. The German won by three strokes after shooting a sensational 63 in the last round - equalling Oosthuizen's lowest score for the tournament, which the South African shot in the second round on Friday.
Kaymer, ranked No6 in the world, carded seven birdies on the back nine yesterday to take the title ahead of Swede Fredrik Jacobson.
He finished on 20 under par on 268 and pocketed $1.2-million, capping a remarkable final round with a 15-foot birdie putt on 18.
Jacobson shot271 and Graeme McDowell was a stroke back.
Schwartzel had the next best round of the day, a 65 - his best of the tournament - to tie for fourth place (273) with Rory McIlroy and Paul Casey. Oosthuizen, who had shot rounds of 71, 63 and 68 to rise to second place, scraped together a final-round 72 to finish joint seventh with Justin Rose and Hunter Mahan on 274.
Major winners Oosthuizen and Schwartzel will debut as South Africa's World Cup of Golf representatives at Mission Hills Haikou on the Chinese island of Hainan. The two are holders of two majors, the British Open 2010 (Oosthuizen) and US Masters (Schwartzel this year).
The two have hit form just in time for the Presidents Cup in Melbourne next week, the South African Open at the new Serengeti course in Kempton Park from November 24 and the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City from December 1 to 4.
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