{"id":224324,"date":"2023-11-15T18:26:09","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T18:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/?p=224324"},"modified":"2023-11-15T18:26:09","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T18:26:09","slug":"max-homas-sun-city-title-confirms-rory-mcilroys-fifth-race-to-dubai-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allworldreport.com\/sport\/max-homas-sun-city-title-confirms-rory-mcilroys-fifth-race-to-dubai-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Homa\u2019s Sun City title confirms Rory McIlroy\u2019s fifth Race to Dubai crown"},"content":{"rendered":"
Max Homa of the United States holds the trophy as he celebrates victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
America\u2019s Max Homa said it had been a \u201ccrazy day\u201d as he held off Danish challengers Thorbjorn Olesen and Nicolai Hojgaard to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City.<\/p>\n
A closing 66 saw Homa finish on 19 under, four clear of Hojgaard.<\/p>\n
The result also confirms that Rory McIlroy will win a fifth Race to Dubai crown, regardless of what happens at next week\u2019s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.<\/p>\n
Homa began the final round with a one-shot lead at Gary Player Country Club and was briefly caught by Olesen despite making birdies on four of his first six holes.<\/p>\n
However, no sooner had he been joined at the top of the leaderboard than the world number eight fired a sensational approach over the water to 18 feet at the par-five ninth and converted the eagle opportunity.<\/p>\n
Olesen cranked up the pressure once more with a tap-in birdie on the 10th but, although Homa gave the chasing pack hope with a dropped shot on the 11th, the Dane carded consecutive bogeys at the 12th and 13th before a double-bogey at the 16th ended his challenge.<\/p>\n
Homa birdied the 15th from seven feet and rattled in a 38-foot effort at the next to put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a dream 10 or 11 days,\u201d Homa told Sky Sports. \u201cIt was a crazy day – I got off to such a great start and Thorbjorn was playing unbelievable. He kept pushing us along and Nicolai was playing phenomenal golf so it was fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cIts kind of what you dream of, you want to be in the fight and it was fun to close it out at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Max Homa of the United States celebrates victory with his caddie <\/p>\n
On his long birdie putt at the 16th, which looked to be racing off the green before the hole intervened, Homa added: \u201cIt was an awkward putt. My speed was great for the first three days – I don\u2019t know if it was nerves or if my speed was just awful all day today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat one wasn\u2019t very good either but it hit the back of the cup thankfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been tremendous to get to travel to a new place, meet so many amazing people, the fans have been amazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has been so welcoming and kind. To come out with a trophy is just a cherry on top.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hojgaard made four birdies in a flawless 68 to claim second, with Olesen making eight birdies in his 69 to take third on 14 under.<\/p>\n
A closing 66 gave Justin Thomas fourth place on 12 under, one ahead of England\u2019s Dan Bradbury, who signed for a fourth-round 71.<\/p>\n