Allenby proves play-off master
Australian Robert Allenby ended four years without a win in South Africa - and nobody would have been surprised it came in sudden death.
Allenby beat defending champion Henrik Stenson at the third extra hole of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City, his 11th play-off victory in 12 attempts.
"I'm glad that's over," said Allenby on the tournament's official website, www.nedbankgolfchallenge.co.za.
"After bogeying the 72nd I knew I had a second chance and my record in play-offs is pretty good.
"I did think we were going to be here all night at one stage, but once I saw Henrik hit it out right I knew he had a difficult shot.
"The only thing in my mind then was hitting my six-iron straight at the pin and I hit it absolutely perfectly."
The pair had both picked up bogeys at the closing hole to finish on the 11-under-par mark of 277 and then parred the 502-yard 18th twice before Swede Stenson bogeyed it again. Allenby had struck a glorious second to seven feet and two-putted for a first prize of more than £720,000. It was his first success since his 2005 hat-trick of Australian Open, PGA and Masters titles.
Stenson earned more than £364,000 and so was a runner-up for the second Sunday running. Last week it was with Robert Karlsson at the World Cup in China.
England's Ross Fisher and South African Tim Clark tied for third on 10 under, Fisher just missing a 20-footer to make the play-off, while Retief Goosen, two in front overnight, dropped to fifth with a 75.
