Golf: Furyk wins Sun City four-man playoff

SUN CITY, South Africa - America's Jim Furyk chipped in for birdie on the second extra hole of a sudden-death playoff to win the 25th Sun City Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club.

Furyk sank his third shot from 15-feet from the back of the par-four 18th green to beat off Briton Darren Clarke and Australia's Adam Scott and capture the US$1.2 million ($1.72 million) first prize.

Four players, including 2004 winner Retief Goosen, had contested the playoff after completing 72 holes in six-under 282. Goosen went out on the first extra hole after a bogey.

Furyk, who started the day on six-under and one-stroke behind leaders Tim Clark of South Africa, Argentine Angel Cabrera and Scott, carded a final round 72, which included a bogey on the 18th.

Cabrera, who set a course record 64 on Friday, returned a disappointing 80 to drop out of contention on a difficult day for scoring with breezes and tough pin-positions.

Northern Ireland's Clarke seemed to be out of the running but finished strongly with a birdie at the 16th and then holed a wedge from 110 yards for birdie at 17th.

That was enough to get him into the playoff after carding 69 - one of only two players to return a sub-70 round.

Scott shot 73 and Goosen 72, underlining the difficulty the players had with scoring over the 7800-yard course.

The 35-year-old Furyk was the most consistent performer in the early stages of the final round and he went out in 34 strokes to lead the field by two shots at one stage.

But bogeys on the par-three 12th, the par-four 15th and the 18th saw him slip back to the field.

Four years ago Furyk disqualified himself from the tournament after realising he had made a mistake during a round when he lifted and placed his ball against regulations.

His gesture to continue playing the last two rounds despite not being able to place in the field endeared him to the South African fans and he was a popular winner.

Ernie Els, making his first tournament appearance since the British Open in July following knee surgery, finished ninth in the 12-man field on two-over 290 after a closing 75.

- REUTERS