South African Louis Oosthuizen captured his first tournament of a New Year for a fourth straight occasion in retaining his Volvo Champions title in Durban.

Oosthuizen shot a final round four under par 68 to win by a shot with a 12-under par victory tally and deny fellow South African Branden Grace who also shot a 68 on the Durban Country Club course.

It is also Oosthuizen’s first success since winning the elite 36-player field event a year ago.

However after a slow start when the 2010 British Open winner pared his opening seven holes, Oosthuizen ignited his charge when he holed a 12-foot eagle putt at the par five eighth hole.

Louis Oosthuizen retains his Volvo Champions title. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

He drew level with Grace with a birdie at 17 and then claimed a seventh European Tour success by holing a two foot birdie putt at the last hole.

“When I eagled the eighth hole I felt I could go on and make a few birdies from there on and while stopped by a bogey on 10, I just felt really comfortable out there,” he said.

“I noticed when I was about to play me shot at 17 that Branden had finished on 11-under par, so I needed to give myself a good opportunity to tie him and I did and then managed to birdie the last, so it’s been another phenomenal week for me here in Durban.”

Oosthuizen came into the event under an injury cloud given a wretched second half of his 2013 season and marred by a continuing lower back injury.

He had been forced out of a number of events but none more disappointing than having to walk from the course early into his opening round at the British Open at Muirfield, and an event he won in 2010.

“I’ve still got a few niggles that I need to work on with my back, but it’s been great this week and not causing me much concern,” he said.

Oosthuizen’s victory is now the seventh occasion in as many European Tour events on the Durban course a tournament has been won by South African born players.

Grace recorded his best finish in over 12 months after winning four times in 2012, including starting the year with a Volvo Champions success, but then going winless in 2013.

The 25-year old capped his round with three birdies from succession at the sixth hole and then birdied two of his closing three holes.

“It was a good final day as I thought I played some superb golf today,” said Grace.

“I let a couple slip out there which was unfortunate but if you had of told me I would start my first event of the New Year with second, and coming so close, I would have taken it.

“Though the winner at the end of the week is a true champion, and he played well, so Louis deserves it.”

England’s Tommy Fleetwood (72) and Dutchman Joost Luiten (71) shared third place on 10 under par.

Triple Major winning Padraig Harrington (67) was tied fifth on nine under par and in best effort since being placed fourth in Durban a year ago.