Charl Schwartzel ‘caught lightning’ to claim unlikely Innisbrook win

South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel said he “caught lightning” on Sunday night to claim an unlikely victory at the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook in Florida.

Schwartzel was yesterday in dreamland following his one-stroke play-off win against overnight leader Bill Haas.

Haas had started the day on eight under and birdied the second but dropped shots at the third, fourth and ninth saw his lead under threat. Haas picked up shots on 11 and 12 but a bogey on the 16th saw him finish on seven under after a round of 72.

Schwartzel was already in the clubhouse at that point, on seven under after a four under par round of 67 which included six birdies and two bogeys.

Schwartzel had looked out of touch until he picked up shots on the 13th, 14th and 17th which saw him reach a seven under total, which Haas could only match, as Schwartzel turned up the heat on the leaders after the turn. “I just caught lightning on the back nine. I’m very proud of myself,” he told Golf Channel.

“I was trying to hit mostly middle of the green, keep the ball in play and take the birdies where they came.”

For his part, Haas rued his big setback on the 16th. After a perfect drive on the difficult 16th hole, Haas pushed his approach into the right greenside bunker. He splashed out to 12 feet and made bogey.

“That bunker shot, a 12-handicapper could have done that,” he said. “That was pretty bad.”

That led to a play-off on the 18th and Schwartzel won it with a par four as Haas saw his title hopes slip away with a bogey.

His fellow American Ryan Moore was alone in third on five under with American amateur Lee McCoy a shot further back in fourth.

World number one Jordan Spieth, who earlier in the tournament defended himself against an internet troll who questioned his ability, saw his fine third-round 67 spoiled by a final 73 which saw him finish on even par for a tie of 18th.