Sweden’s Henrik Stenson clearly seized the Race to Dubai initiative from rival Danny Willett on the opening day of the $US 7m Nedbank Challenge at Sun City near Pretoria in South Africa.
Stenson saved a great par at the last in a round of a three under par 69 to among seven players tied in fourth place but only a shot from the lead in the second of the three European Tour’s Final Series events.
Three players – Chilean Felipe Aguilar, England’s Ross Fisher and South Korean Jeunghun Wang – on four under par where crocodiles and monkeys are in plentiful number while lions, elephants and other wildlife roam on the close-by Pilanesberg National Wildlife Reserve.
Henrik Stenson steals the initiative on day one of the 2016 Nedbank Challenge in South Africa. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
Willett’s body language said it all as he struggled under the weight of a three over par 75 that included a second hole triple bogey ‘8’.
Stenson would clinch the No. 1 crown for a second time in four years with victory at Sun City and Willett finishes no higher than 10th.
“It would be nice if I can get the job done this week,” he said.
“I just want to play as well as I can for these two weeks and see where it takes me.
“Of course you’re always going to look a little bit and see what the other guys are doing but at the end of the day I’ve got to focus on my game and I managed to do that.
“So I am very happy with the day’s work.”
