England’s Danny Willett has gone to the top of the 2015 Race to Dubai and banking the biggest prize cheque of his career in capturing the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa.

Willett, 27 whose only previous triumph came at the BMW International Open in 2012, carded a six under par 66 to win by four shots at the Gary Player Country Club course.

Among the first to congratulate Willett was legendary South African born golfer, Gary Player.

The current World No. 84 ignited his charge to victory on day three of the event and continued that form into Sunday  in a final round that included half a dozen birdies, leaving him 18 under par.

“South Africa is a place that’s suited me in the past. I’ve played good golf down here, love the place, love the people, everything about it is great. It’s been a truly fun test of golf,” he said.

Danny Willett captures 2014 Nedbank Challenge. (Photo – David Lloyd/www.golffile.ie)

Willett’s earned a first prize cheque for Euro 864,978 that was nearly 1/2m Euro more than his previous highest prize cheque was Euro 386,695 in finishing runner-up in the 2010 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Fellow Englishman Ross Fisher (68) was in second place on 14-under par and with Luke Donald (73) in third at 12-under par.

​Fisher, who won the Tshwane Open in South Africa earlier this year, had seven birdies but also three bogeys.

“I’m delighted. I felt like I played great all week. I finally started to hole a few putts today which was nice, but unfortunately for me and Luke, Danny was too good. I played some great golf,” said Fisher.

Donald failed to mark his 37th birthday with his first victory since the BMW PGA Championship in 2012 following a frustrating one over par 73.

The former World Number One, leading by one overnight, struggled to maintain his challenge following a disappointing start that saw him suffer two of four bogeys early on.

He paid the price for over-hitting out of the bunker on the third and then almost drove his tee shot into spectators at the fifth, where Willett moved four shots clear.

Birdies at six and nine, the latter courtesy of an immaculate drive over the water, gave him some renewed hope but that was dashed when he bogeyed the tenth after requiring two shots to leave the sand.

To compound matters, Willett and Fisher both birdied the tenth, the latter’s third in a row.

But Fisher two putted the 11th to hand Willett another four shot advantage, which was cut to three when the former sank a putt on the 13th.

His lead remained at three when he produced a fine chip out of the bunker to follow his partners in making gains at the next, with a birdie putt on the penultimate pin confirming his convincing victory.

Willett follows Nick Faldo and Lee Westwood in winning this event, and he said:  “They are some good names to be next to.

“It’s always nice walking up the ninth, obviously with the name engraved on the pathway up the left, you kind of realise how many great players have been here and walked over the same bridge as you have and had a great week.

“Hopefully we can come back here year after year and do it again.”

Donald added: “There were a lot of positives. It’s nice to put myself back in position. I could have played a bit better but I still would have had to shoot five under just to tie with Danny. He played really focused golf today and hats off, he’s a deserved winner.”

German Marcel Siem sat three shots behind third placed Donald on nine under after matching his opening round 68.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat was two further back following six birdies, including two at the third and fourth courtesy of long putts, and a double bogey on the tenth.

A second successive 69 saw Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiménez finish on six under.

Alexander Levy found the ninth hole problematic after the Frenchman required 10 shots to complete the 596 yard par five, leaving him languishing on four over.