Nervy finish as Coetzee returns to the European Tour winners circle
Following on from his victory on the Sunshine
Tour last week, South Africa’s George Coetzee won his fifth European Tour title
at the Portugal Masters at the Dom
Pedro Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura on Sunday.
Coetzee made two birdies in the final three holes to give himself victory but he didn’t feel like he was enjoying himself down the stretch.
“Last week we played at my home club and that was probably the most fun I’ve had being in the lead,” Coetzee said.
“This would be probably the least fun that I have had when being in the lead at a competition!
“But I hadn’t hit a better drive the whole day than the one that I hit on the last hole so I was ecstatic with that.
“It’s all the hard work that my psychologist, my coach and I have been putting in lately and it’s really nice to see it all pay off.”
When looking back on the final round there were a few moments that stood out for the 34-year-old.
“I didn’t enjoy the twelfth hole, even the third shot but I’ve hit that eight iron flyer out of the rough back home before.
“But the shot on sixteen was the big shot and also I need to mention my drive on eighteen,” he added with a laugh.
The golfing world shifts their focus to the second major of the year at the US Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.
Brandon Grace will be another South African in the field after he was given the call-up following the withdrawal from American Scottie Scheffler who has tested positive for COVID-19.