SUNDAY DECEMBER 16, 2012 – ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP
• His eighth European Tour International Schedule victory in his 233rd European Tour event.
• His first European Tour victory since the 2011 Masters Tournament.
• His second victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, following his triumph in the 2005 season, which gave him his maiden European Tour success.
• Victory continues his remarkable record in the event at Leopard Creek. Apart from his victory in 2005 he has finished second on a further four occasions in the 2006 season, 2007, 2010 and 2011 (Dec 10).
• The second European Tour event he has won on two occasions. He has also won the Joburg Open twice, in 2010 and 2011.
• The fifth of his eight European Tour titles to have come on home soil.
• Only the second player to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship on two occasions, following Pablo Martin (2010-2011) (Dec 10).
• The fifth South African victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship. This would follow: Schwartzel (2005), Ernie Els (2006), Richard Sterne (2009) and Garth Mulroy (2011) (Nov 11).
• Victory comes in the 50th co-sanctioned event between The European Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
• His ten shot 54 hole lead is the largest on The European Tour since Alex Noren led by 11 at the 2011 Nordea Masters. (The record 54 hole lead on The European Tour is 13 held by Retief Goosen at the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic).
• His ten shot 54 hole lead beat the previous best in the Alfred Dunhill Championship of two shots by Martin Maritz (2003), Ulrich Van den Berg (2006), Schwartzel himself (2007) and Ernie Els (2008).
His winning total of 264 (-24) is a new tournament record record, as is his 12 shot winning margin.
His 12 shot winning margin is the third largest in European Tour histoy and biggest since Ernie Els at the 2005 BMW Asian Open.
Is now a total of 87 under par for his last 30 rounds over the Leopard Creek course.
OTHER FACTS
• The 111th South African victory in European Tour history.
• This victory is the tenth for South Africa in the calendar year of 2012 on The European Tour. He follows: Louis Oosthuizen (Africa Open and Maybank Malaysian Open), Branden Grace (Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions, Volvo China Open and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship), Jbe’ Kruger (Avantha Masters), Darren Fichardt (SAINT-OMER OPEN presented by Neuflize OBC) and Ernie Els (The 141th Open Championship). Their total of nine during the 2012 European Tour season was the most of any country,
• The sixth different South African to win in the calendar year of 2012 on The European Tour, which would be a record for the country.
• This victory extends South Africa’s run of consecutive winning years on The European Tour to 23, dating back to the 1991 season.
• Gains his second consecutive victory following his 11 shot win in the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour, seven days ago.
• Gains his tenth win as a professional.
• Of his ten victories six have now come in South Africa.
• This victory means he has now won in five of the last seven European Tour seasons, dating back to 2007.
• Gains a place in the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions.
