South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Valspar Championship on Sunday
Charl
Schwartzel secured his first victory in the United States since the 2011
Masters by beating Bill Haas in a play-off at the Valspar Championship
in Florida on Sunday.
South
African Schwartzel came from five shots behind in the final round to
card a four-under-par 67 before beating Haas with a tap-in par at the
first extra hole.
While
the win will boost Schwartzel's confidence going into next month's
Masters, world No 1 Jordan Spieth has some work to do as he tunes up for
his title defence at Augusta.
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| South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Valspar Championship with a one-stroke play-off victory |
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| Schwartzel celebrates his Valspar Championship victory against overnight leader Bill Haas on Sunday |
Spieth
carded a 73 on Sunday to tie for 18th on even par. He was outplayed by
22-year-old amateur Lee McCoy, who shot 69 to finish fourth.
Schwartzel turned up the heat on the leaders after the turn.
'I
just caught lightning on the back nine. I'm very proud of myself,' he
told Golf Channel. I was trying to hit mostly middle of the green, keep
the ball in play and take the birdies where they came.'
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| Schwartzel had looked out of touch until he picked up shots on the 13th, 14th and 17th |
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| Schwartzel won a play off on the 18th with a par four as Haas saw his title hopes slip away with a bogey |
Schwartzel
and overnight leader Haas (72) finished regulation at seven-under-par,
two strokes ahead of Ryan Moore on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook
Resort in Palm Harbor.
Haas
then made a mess of the playoff hole, the par-four 18th, hitting a poor
shot from a greenside bunker that afforded Schwartzel the luxury of
two-putting for victory.
'I
probably won't be able to sleep tonight thinking about that one. That
was just poor execution,' Haas, a six-times PGA Tour winner, said of his
bunker shot.
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| World No 1 Jordan Spieth carded a 73 on Sunday to tie for 18th on even par in America |
Schwartzel's
victory was his third in his last six starts after winning twice in
European Tour events back home. It was his 15th professional victory
worldwide but just his second on the PGA Tour after his Augusta National
triumph five years ago.
Schwartzel endured some lean times after winning the Masters and said the green jacket weighed heavily on his shoulders.
'After winning Augusta, you think short term you're going to win a lot, but it was a rough ride,' he said.
'It was tough for a few years. Game felt good enough but it became a mental thing and it's nice to overcome it.'
