SUNDAY JANUARY 11, 2015 – SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP HOSTED BY THE CITY OF EKURHULENI
• His first European Tour International Schedule victory in his 84th European Tour event.
• Moves to 158,500 points in The Race to Dubai.
• This victory beats his previous best European Tour performance of second in the 2014 Trophée Hassan II.
• Becomes the first, first-time winner of the 2015 season.
• Becomes the first Englishman to win the South African Open Championship since the event became co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour in 1997.
• Becomes only the second Englishman to win the South African Open Championship, following Tommy Horton in 1970.
• Victory comes in his third appearance in the South African Open Championship.
• This victory beats his previous best finish in the South African Open Championship of tied 12th in 2013 (part of the 2014 European Tour season).
• Becomes the second consecutive first-time winner of the event, following Morten Ørum Madsen.
• The first time three European players have won the South African Open Championship for three consecutive years. They are: Henrik Stenson, Morten Ørum Madsen and Andy Sullivan.
• Began the final day seven shots behind leader Charl Schwartzel. This is the biggest final day comeback since Graeme McDowell’s eight at the 2014 Alstom Open de France.
• His seven is the biggest final day winning comeback since the event became part of The European Tour in 1997, beating the six of Richard Sterne in 2009.
OTHER FACTS
• Becomes the 291st English victory in European Tour history.
• Becomes the 91st different Englishman to win on The European Tour.
• Becomes the second Englishman to win on the 2015 season. They are Danny Willett (Nedbank Golf Challenge) and Andy Sullivan (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni).
• Gains a European Tour exemption until the end of 2016.
• Gains his first win as a professional.
• Becomes the second European Tour win of the 2015 season by a former Challenge Tour player. They are: Branden Grace (Alfred Dunhill Championship), Andy Sullivan (South African Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni)
