Retief Goosen has emerged from the pack to win the PGA Tour Champions event in South Dakota by two shots.
Goosen opened the week with a pair of 65s at Minnehaha Country Club but trailed by one each of the first two rounds. The South African surpassed countryman and 36-hole leader Ernie Els on Sunday with a three-under-par 67, giving him a winning score of 13-under 197.
Goosen played a steady round with four birdies and one bogey for his first win on the PGA Tour Champions since March 2024 and his fourth overall.
American Bo Van Pelt shot a 68 to come in second at 11 under. Els began his day with three straight bogeys to give away the lead, and his final-round 73 dropped him into a tie for third at eight under with Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke (68).
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez (71) placed fifth at seven under and remains in pole position in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup race. Goosen climbed three spots to No.9 in the points standings, and Els improved one spot to No.4.
Back-to-back birdies at Nos. 13-14 gave Van Pelt a share of the lead with Goosen, as they played together in the final group with Els. Goosen drew back in front by birdieing the par-5 16th, set up by a stellar chip onto the green and just a few feet from the pin.
Van Pelt bogeyed the next hole, giving Goosen plenty of cushion to finish off the victory.
Steve Allan and Mark Hensby (both 68) were the leading Australians in a tie for 10th at four under.
Michael Wright (67) finished three under, Stuart Appleby (68) was a shot further back while David Bransdon (67), Rod Pampling (68) and Matthew Goggin (70) all ended one under.
John Senden (73), Greg Chalmers and Richard Green (both 74) were three over the card and Brad Jones (67) four over.
With AAP.
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