Charl Schwartzel’s magnificent victory at Augusta National lifted the new Masters Champion back to the top of The Race to Dubai following the season’s first Major.
Schwartzel occupied pole position for a month at the start of the year after he successfully defended his Joburg Open title in his home city, but had dropped to fifth place heading into the Masters as WGC – Accenture Match Play Champion, Luke Donald, led the European Tour contingent into the first Major test.
But Schwartzel’s brilliance on Sunday, when he birdied each of the last four holes for a two-stroke victory, secured a winner’s cheque for €1,011,690 and took him past Donald with season’s earnings to €1,371,628.
Schwartzel’s highest finish in the Race to Dubai is eighth, achieved last year when he won twice and claimed two other runners-up finishes.
Donald, who chipped in on the last to claim a share of fourth place, now lies second with €1,453,725 while last year’s winner of the Race to Dubai, Martin Kaymer, is the third player player to have already earned over €1million with €1,049,512 to his name.
Rory McIlroy fell back down the field with a closing 80 at Augusta National but his joint 15th place finish still lifted him four places in the Race to Dubai to sixth place.
