It doesn’t get more dramatic than that.
England’s Graeme Storm went toe to toe with the world’s number two player Rory McIlroy after after the third playoff hole came out on top. For his efforts the 37-year-old bagged the SA Open title at a packed and trilled Glendower on Sunday afternoon.
Both Storm - who led after the second and third rounds - and McIlroy finished their 72 holes at 18-under-par and were forced to play the 18th hole three times before the Englishman pipped the man from Northern Ireland.
"I'm in shock..." #BMWSAOpen pic.twitter.com/f0S5kHyeNk
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 15, 2017
It was a sensational end to a wonderful week at Glendower where thousands of fans lined the fairways and crowded the greens to watch McIlroy in action.
After both men had parred the 18th on both times of asking in the playoff, McIlroy eventually missed his putt from about one metre to hand Storm the victory. It’s just his second win on tour after previously capturing the French Open in 2007.
Storm played the steadiest golf all week, making just one bogey in the final round and five all week; the other four all coming in the opening round on Thursday.
McIlroy's putt slides by. @StormyGraeme wins the #BMWSAOpen🏆 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/FO5ejV1aFh
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 15, 2017
Finishing third, one-shot off featuring in the playoff, was England’s Jordan Smith, who enjoyed a wonderful week at Glendower.
After opening with a 67 he shot three rounds of 68 to earn a decent pay cheque. He’ll rue the double bogey at the seventh today which ultimately cost him a shot at glory. He also made four birdies, two eagles and two bogeys.
In fourth spot on his own was Dean Burmester who’ll also rue making double bogey at 17. Besides that blemish, and a further bogey at 14, he played excellent golf during his final round, making six birdies.
It's official 🏆 #BMWSAOpen pic.twitter.com/x7z2FcbQyE
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 15, 2017
In joint fifth place were Trevor Fisher Jnr and Thomas Aiken, who both shot 69s in their final rounds, to be four shots off the pace.
A further shot back was a group of six players including Finland’s Mikko Korhonen and Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.
Defending champion Brandon Stone finished down the field in a tie for 31st after carding a final round 69.