Fisher Polishes Off Tshwane Open Victory


Ross Fisher closed with a final-round, 2-under 70 to win the Tshwane Open by three strokes. The event took place at the Ernie Els-designed, 7,964-yard - the European Tour's longest course - Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate in Centurion, South Africa.

The 33-year-old Englishman carded two birdies, his second eagle on the par-5 15th, and two bogeys en route to a 20-under 268 total, well clear of South African Danie Van Tonder (66) and Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey (68).

Fisher began Sunday with a five-stroke lead and basically cruised to his fifth European Tour title. Though Hoey came with a shot of the lead at the turn, the eagle assured Fisher of the victory.

"I'm thrilled to get over the line," said Fisher, a member of the victorious 2010 European Ryder Cup team. "It was a testing day with the weather conditions and playing with Mike he put up a great challenge for me.

"I set a target of trying to go out there and shoot in the 60s and almost managed to do it. I had a little mishap on the last but I'm just glad to be standing here talking to you as champion."

The eagle capped the tournament for Fisher, who got his first victory since the 3 Irish Open in August 2010. "(The 15th hole has) been pretty good to me this week," he noted. "There have been a couple of eagles, but that was a big putt there.

"I know I was only a couple ahead. To hit a nice shot there and have a good look at three and to see it drop - I think I went four shots clear with only three to play - I knew I could coast in," added Fisher, who closed with a meaningless bogey on the par-4 18th hole.

"There was a little wobble on a few of those holes and I managed to make a couple of good par saves of 16 and 17. It would have been nice to shoot 69 but, unfortunately, I missed one on the last. I'm not going to complain."

Finishing four shots behind Fisher was Spain's Carlos del Moral, who closed with a 68, while five behind was South Africa's Otto Hennie, who also shot 68.

For all the scores, visit http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014015/leaderboard/index.html.