Titch Moore. Picture: Gallo Images.
With a tournament total of 15-under-par, he and Ulrich van den Berg went back on to the 18th tee five times in order to determine the winner of this year’s renewal of one of the marquee events on the Sunshine Tour.
“I was obviously just happy to get into the play-off because I didn’t think 15-under was going to be enough at the end of the day,” a clearly elated Moore said of his first win since 2007 and one that secured him the biggest payday (R593 375) of a professional career that started in 1997.
“To play an extra five holes up that mountain was no problem and coming on the winning end of it I’m very chuffed.”
It proved to be a good day for Moore, as he managed to fulfil a request from his six-year-old son Tremond – to bring him a trophy. The fact that the 38-year-old added his name to a list that includes Major winners Gary Player and Louis Oosthuizen is a big plus.
“It’s one of the oldest events out here. It’s a prestigious event and it’s one of our Majors, so I’m really happy to get there.
“I gave myself a couple of chances. I just ground hard out there but at the end of the day whether you win it in regulation or play-off, I’ll take it,” Moore, who has now won eight times on the Sunshine Tour, added of his effort at Country Club Johannesburg.
“I feel hard done for Uli. He’s a good player and he’s been playing nicely for a while. But I’ve also been knocking on the door for the last couple of months. Finally to win a summer section of the Tour is fantastic.”
Meanwhile, eight South Africans showed up in Texas for the Shell Houston Open and it was Retief Goosen who fared the best of all as he ended in a share of seventh place. There was the added bonus for Goosen of keeping his PGA Tour card, with the cheque enough to ensure his safety.