Fred Couples raises 12th Man flag at Seahawks game

Fred Couples is now two for two in ceremonial roles this year. First, Couples captained the U.S. Presidents Cup team to victory in October, then on Monday night the Seattle native raised the "12th Man" flag prior to the Seahawks demolishing the Saints 34-7 at Seattle's CenturyLink Field.

A Seahawks season ticket holder and sports nut who is often seen at NBA games, Couples was thrilled to get the chance to raise the flag, the symbol of the NFL's most maniacal fan base, and even compared the honor to his Masters victory in 1992.

"I've got to be honest, this is more fun than golf ever is," Couples said prior to raising the flag. He also promised to "act like a nut here for about 30 seconds." After watching the Seahawks' video of Couples raising the flag and then breaking a driver on his knee, we can only say, "Mission accomplished."

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No time for forward looking Spieth to reflect on past glory

Jordan Spieth has a great deal of success to reflect upon after delivering a sensational debut season on the 2013 PGA Tour but he would far rather look ahead as he bids to become an even better player.

The remarkably composed, 20-year-old American was taught by his father to improve himself at something on a month-by-month basis and he is using that lesson as a template in his rapidly burgeoning golf career.

"Each year, I think going back to when I was 12 years old, I've improved as a golfer," Spieth told reporters on a sun-drenched Tuesday at Sherwood Country Club while preparing for this week's Northwestern Mutual World Challenge.

"A big thing for my dad was to say, 'Just try to look back at each month and see if you got a little better each month at something.' This year a big focus of mine is on the majors.

"Now I'm able to be in all four of them and pick my schedule leading up to them to have the best success I can there versus not even knowing I was going to be in a couple of them." 

Spieth, who won the John Deere Classic in July before ending a golden 2013 campaign by being voted the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year, says his main aim is to go into the majors well rested with a better game plan. 

"That is going to be a big focus of mine, trying to play all four weekends, really getting competitive in them and just try to see what it feels like," he said.

"I know what it feels like right now down the stretch at a Tour event, what it feels like to win having done it once, but I have a feeling it will be a little different kind of pressure in a major championship." 

LONG WAY 

Spieth has come a very long way since January when he had to play in a Thursday qualifier just to get into a Monday qualifier for the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines where he missed the cut in his first tournament as a professional. 

However, after recording successive top-10s on the Web.com Tour, he returned to the PGA Tour in early March for the Puerto Rico Open where he tied for second and has not looked back. 

"It's been an incredible year," smiled Spieth, who recorded nine top-10s in 23 starts on the 2013 PGA Tour. "It's great to look back at what happened to be in this scenario and learn from the positives.

"But all-in-all, I think the way to have success this year (in 2014) is to not dwell too much on the past and focus on the best players in the world that I'm playing against now week-in and week-out." 

Spieth, who three months ago became the youngest player ever to qualify for the PGA Tour's season-ending Tour Championship, has identified two areas of his game he specifically wants to improve. 

"I really need to focus on my long-iron play, and I need to hit some more pitches around the greens," he said. "That 20- to 40-yard range, pitching the ball, it just wasn't getting it close enough.

"Luckily that's something that is based on how many reps you hit and just getting the feel of the grass each week. If I had the same kind of routine and put a little extra time into those two departments, I'd just improve from last year (2013)."

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Charl Schwartzel seals Alfred Dunhill Championship hat-trick

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel won the Alfred Dunhill Championship for a third time on Sunday, successfully defending his title at Leopard Creek.

Schwartzel, who won by 12 shots last year, carded a closing 68 to finish 17-under-par, four shots clear of England's Richard Finch, who returned a 70.

Simon Dyson, who faces a European Tour disciplinary panel on Thursday following his disqualification from the BMW Masters in October, shot a final round of 67 to finish joint third on 10 under alongside compatriot Ross Fisher and France's Romain Wattel.

Waterford's Kevin Phelan finished on two-under-par after a final round of 74 which was still good enough for a tie for 24th place.

Gareth Maybin finished on two-over-par after a 75 while Damien McGrane shot a 74 to end on four-over-par.

The win will take Schwartzel back into the world's top 20 and makes up for letting a three-shot lead slip in the final round of the South African Open seven days ago.

The 29-year-old began the final round with a two-shot lead over playing partner Finch but saw that wiped out in the space of three holes as the Englishman birdied the first and third.

Schwartzel responded with a superb tee shot to within a few feet of the hole on the fifth to edge back in front, but a birdie on the sixth was matched by Finch, playing here on a sponsor's invite after losing his card at the end of the 2013 season.

It looked as though Finch, who won twice on the European Tour in 2008, would get back on level terms after a brilliant second shot to the eighth, but Schwartzel holed from 20ft and Finch did well to follow him in.

Finch made his first mistake of the day on the 11th, a wild drive leading to a penalty drop and a bogey five, although Schwartzel almost let him off the hook.

From the middle of the fairway the South African span a simple wedge shot back into a greenside bunker and eventually had to hole from four feet for par to extend his lead to two shots.

Schwartzel moved three ahead with a birdie from 10 feet on the 13th and the tournament suddenly looked over as a contest when Finch ran up a double bogey on the next, his approach from a fairway bunker hitting rocks on the edge of a water hazard and bouncing into some bushes.

Schwartzel's birdie putt from six feet lipped out, but he still had a five-shot lead with four holes to play. Finch reduced the gap with a birdie on the 15th, but Schwartzel was able to cruise home with a safety-first approach to seal his ninth European Tour title.

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Rory McIlroy returns to winning ways with victory at Australian Open

Rory McIlroy was doubly satisfied after he claimed his first title in over a year with a dramatic one-shot victory at the Australian Open in Sydney.

The Northern Irishman birdied the 18th as Adam Scott bogeyed to bring to an end a miserable run of form.

His struggles this year are in sharp contrast to his successes in 2012 when he won five times around the world, including a second major title when he won the US PGA Championship by eight shots.

The former world number one began the day four shots behind Australian Scott but a round of 66 - highlighted by an eagle on the par-five seventh - powered him to victory as the reigning Masters champion faltered.

The overnight leader started and finished with bogeys as he carded a 71, letting slip what would have been his second Australian Open title and the triple crown of Australian golf - the Australian Masters, PGA and Open in the same season - achieved only once before by Robert Allenby in 2005.

Instead, McIlroy can celebrate a first tournament win since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November.

John Senden, the 2006 champion, equalled McIlroy's six-under 66 to finish third at 11 under, thereby qualifying for the 2014 Open at Royal Liverpool.

Rhein Gibson and Bryden Macpherson both carded three-under 69s to finish in a share of fourth at nine under the card and also book their places at next year's British Open.

Jason Day posted a two-under 70 to finish at minus eight alongside New Zealander Mark Brown (69) and Matt Jones (72).

McIlroy, addressing a press conference after his win, said: "Since the end of September I have felt better with how my swing was, I felt that everything was coming together the way I wanted it to.

"It's been a frustrating year - I've worked hard and it's been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments again. 

"It was nice to be able to do it today." 

He added on Channel Seven: "I wanted to get a win by the end of the season and finally I have been able to get one. 

"But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top. 

"Adam is a phenomenal golfer and a great competitor and probably even a better guy. 

"I feel a bit sorry I was the one to ruin the triple crown for him and I am very happy and Adam should be very proud of himself - he is a credit to the game and a credit to this country. 

"It is a very prestigious tournament - Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, it seems like most of the greats of the game have won this tournament and I am honoured to put my name on that trophy." 

"Since the end of September I have felt better with how my swing was, I felt that everything was coming together the way I wanted it to" - A victorious Rory McIlroy elaborates on his return to form 

After the third-round tussle between the two failed to ignite, Sunday proved a much better encounter. 

McIlroy followed up his eagle with a birdie from close range at the eighth to take a share of the lead. 

Scott replied with a birdie on the ninth after an outstanding iron shot to regain the advantage, and after matching birdies on the 13th they headed to the final hole with Scott still up by one. 

But the Australian put himself in trouble when he missed the green and then overhit a chip to leave himself with a long putt. 

He could only bogey and that left McIlroy with the opportunity of rolling it in from five metres for the win. 

Scott did not attempt to hide his devastation, saying: "I felt I did everything right. 

"I was concerned how I was going to hit it today because I haven't been swinging the club very well for the last two weeks and I played really nicely, but the putter didn't behave itself. But that's the way golf is. 

"I'm gutted, I felt I'd never have a better chance to win the Aussie Open. 

"I just slightly misjudged a few putts, overplayed the break, missed a lot of putts on the high side and didn't quite have the eye in - and it always gets a lot trickier on the Sunday. 

"But I just misjudged on the last and a player as good as Rory is going to take that opportunity."

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Wayne Rooney plays football golf against Rory McIlroy in new Nike ad

To launch the new Nike Ordem ball, the company produced one of their signature commercial films, pitting Wayne Rooney against U.S. Open and PGA Championship winner Rory McIlroy in a modified game of golf. Rooney uses the Ordem while McIlory uses normal golfing instruments in the showdown, which features a cameo from Ronaldo (the original one). Rooney somehow reaches 9-under par along with McIlory even though he's using a ball that can't fit in the hole because this is a football ad and the rules of golf don't matter.

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European Tour appoints first non-professional chairman

The European Tour has appointed a non-professional golfer as chairman of its board of directors for the first time.

Businessman David Williams, 66, succeeds former Ryder Cup player Neil Coles who held the post for 38 years.

The appointment is aimed at boosting the Tour's commercial power - Williams has more than 30 years experience in consumer, leisure and retail fields.

"We have chosen a chairman who brings a powerful business background," said European Tour director David Jones. 

The Tour has been under increased commercial pressure following the European economic downturn with more of it's top players basing themselves on the rival PGA Tour in the United States. 

Players representative Thomas Bjorn and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley have also welcomed the news. 

"The appointment of someone with the business acumen of David Williams is undoubtedly good news for our development both at home and around the world," said McGinley. 

Williams, who has held senior roles with Whitbread, Diageo, PepsiCo Restaurants and Mothercare and is currently chair of the Operating Partners at Duke Street Capital, is keen to take the Tour to new markets. 

"I'll be looking to ensure that the Tour is structured in a way which enables it to further increase its expansion and appeal across the globe," he said.

"As well as working with the players and our business partners to promote long-term sustainable growth."

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Rory McIlroy delighted to be winning again in Australia

Rory McIlroy insisted he had put off-course distractions behind him as he celebrated a thrilling one-shot win over Adam Scott at the Australian Open.

Scott led by four shots going into the final day, but Northern Irishman McIlroy birdied the last for a 66 to clinch his first win of 2013.

"Since the end of September, I have just felt in a better place mentally," said world number six McIlroy. 

"Everything has been coming together the way I wanted." 

McIlroy, who won five times around the world in 2012, including a second major when he won the US PGA Championship, admitted 2013 had been a frustrating year "with some things off the course". 

Such well-publicised distractions for the former world number one included falling out with his management company,changing golf clubs as part of a massive sponsorship deal, and rumours that he and tennis-player girlfriend Caroline Wozniackihad broken up. 

McIlroy's narrow Sydney success over Masters champion Scott was his first tournament win since the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November. 

Overnight leader Scott, the world number two, started and finished with bogeys as he carded a 71, letting slip the chance to complete the triple crown of Australian golf - the Australian Masters, PGA and Open in the same season. 

"I cannot believe I have won," said 24-year-old McIlroy. "I did not think it would unfold the way it did. 

"On the 18th, I thought I might have the chance of a play-off. Then, all of a sudden, I had a putt to win and didn't want extra holes. 

"For that last putt, I just focused on my normal routine and didn't think about it being my first win of the year. 

"I thought I had blown my chance on 16, putting my second shot in the bunker and not making a birdie. 

"Then at 17 Scotty was close to making a birdie but didn't. 

"I just stayed patient because I knew anything could happen on this course. 

"Adam put it in a tricky spot on 18 and luckily I was able to make that putt when I needed it. 

"It has been a frustrating year, but I have worked hard. It has been a process, getting back to winning golf tournaments again."

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Charl Schwartzel defends Alfred Dunhill Championship

ALFRED DUNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL LEADERBOARD

-17: C Schwartzel (SA) 

-13: R Finch (Eng) 

-10: S Dyson (Eng), R Fisher (Eng), R Wattel (Fra)

South Africa's Charl Schwartzel beat England's Richard Finch by four shots to defend his Alfred Dunhill Championship title at Leopard Creek.

Schwartzel, 29, the 2011 Masters champion, led Finch by two going into the final day and shot 68 to end 17 under in Malelane, South Africa.

Finch, 36, a two-time European Tour winner, took 70 to finish 13 under.

England's Simon Dyson (67) and Ross Fisher (69), plus France's Romain Wattel, tied third at 10 under.

Schwartzel, who let slip a three-shot lead to finish fourth in the final round of last week's European Tour opener, the South African Open, saw Finch erase his lead with two birdies in the first three holes on Sunday.

But Schwartzel hit back with three birdies of his own against two more from Finch to lead by one again at the turn.

And the Englishman slid further back with a bogey on the 11th and a double bogey on the par-four 14th as Schwartzel birdied the 13th.

Finch, who was playing on a sponsor's invite after losing his Tour card at the end of the 2013 season, grabbed a shot back at the 15th, but five straight pars to finish handed world number 21 Schwartzel his ninth European Tour win and third Dunhill title after a 2004 play-off victory.

"I had a bit of a hiccup during my first round at the 17th but after that I played almost flawless golf with no bogeys," said Schwartzel, a native of Johannesburg. 

"If you play some 60 holes without making a bogey, then hopefully you're going to win."

Fisher birdied the last alongside Dyson, who faces a European Tour disciplinary panel on Thursday following his disqualification from the BMW Masters in October.

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Tiger Woods denies Jason Dufner's request to reschedule tournament to accomodate Auburn football

Tiger Woods and Jason Dufner at the Presidents Cup during a practice round. 

All Jason Dufner wants to do is watch his Auburn Tigers play for the SEC Championship this Saturday against Missouri. The only problem? He's playing in Tiger Woods's tournament, the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, the same day. So he does what any rabid sports fan would do: Address the tournament host as politely as possible to make the tournament a two-day event to free up Dufner's Saturday.

Jason Dufner: Dear Mr TigerWoods I petition the event this week to play 36 holes Thurs and Friday,so I can watch my beloved Auburn play for SEC champ thx

Tiger responds to Duf with a swift and concise rejection.

Tiger Woods: JasonDufner Petition denied.

*UPDATE* Dufner admits defeat.

Jason Dufner: TigerWoods total B.S. It was worth a try tho.

RELATED: Jason Dufner delivered pre-game speech to Auburn before Texas A&M upset

RELATED: Jason Dufner honored by Auburn with 'Jason Dufner Drive'

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Rory McIlroy talks to Sky Sports and says patience is key lesson from 2013

Rory McIlroy says being patient is the big lesson he has learned from a tough 2013, but one which has had a happy ending with his first victory coming in the Australian Open.

McIlroy has had his well-publicised problems on and off the course this year, but when he talked to Sky Sports at the launch of the new range of Nike clubs he was using he cut an upbeat figure.

The 24-year-old admitted to getting down on himself at times during the year, but was now taking a much more long-term view, as he put it: "If my career was an 18-hole golf course I'd say I'm only on the second or third hole right now, and I've not done too badly so far!"

A spring was certainly in McIlroy's step as he talked the world's media through the new array of golfing weapons he would have in his armoury - with a new driver and ball combination giving him the most confidence along with finally settling on a putter.

McIlroy admitted that he maybe should have played a few more times at the start of 2013 to get used to his new Nike clubs, the attention the big move and being World No 1 would bring and just to settle in the season, but that and his new-found patience has all been part of the learning curve.

Patience

"Just to stay patient is probably the biggest lesson I've learnt," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "Golf is always going to have its ups and downs and it's been a learning curve this year for sure. 

"I feel like I probably should have played more at the start of the season just to play my way into the season a little bit more and get used to all this sort of stuff - it was a pretty busy start to the year for me. 

"But just really patience has been a big thing because there's probably times when I've got a bit down on myself and a bit frustrated, but when I sit down and think about it there was always going to be periods like this when you're not going to play so well. 

"So you just have to ride it out and if you work on the right things in practice then things will turn around for you." 

Things did finally turn around for McIlroy - and he says having such an involvement in the new Nike equipment also gave him confidence going forward - and that certainly showed as he came out on top with the in-form Adam Scott during their final round duel in Australia. 

Equipment 

"I'm really lucky that I've been working really closely with the guys at Nike and they really take notice to the feedback I give them," he added.

"They obviously know a lot more about club design and things like that than I do, but they come back with prototypes and new things that have my thoughts in them so that's nice to see." 

In a sign of what was to come, McIlroy also said he was close to being right back at the top of his game, as he looks to get back among the shake-up for the majors next year. 

"It's very close, it's really close," he said of his game. "It's the best it's felt all year for sure and it's only getting better - after the Dubai tournament I spent a few more days there and practised with my coach there and I feel like my game's in real good shape. 

"So I'm excited for the end of this season and excited for 2014."

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Thongchai Jaidee and Miguel Angel Jimenez named EurAsia Cup captains

Thongchai Jaidee and Miguel Angel Jimenez have been named captains for Team Asia and Team Europe for the inaugural EurAsia Cup next year.

The duo will lead golfers from both continents over three days of Ryder Cup-styled matchplay at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur from March 27-29.

Thai Thongchai has won the Asian Tour Order of Merit three times and has 16 professional victories to his name, including five wins on the European Tour and two Malaysian Open titles.

"We have Europe playing the USA at The Ryder Cup, and it is great to now have a fully sanctioned, official competition for the Europeans to play against the best from Asia. With so many world-class players now emerging from the Asian Tour, it is sure to be a close contest." 

Miguel Angel Jimenez 

"I am honoured and delighted to be asked to captain Team Asia," said the 44-year-old. "Week in, week out, we compete as individuals, but the EurAsia Cup gives us a different way to play the sport.

"I am a huge fan of The Ryder Cup, but being Asian, I will never get to play in it. The EurAsia Cup will offer the chance for the best Asian and European players to come together, and I am looking forward to leading a determined group that will do their very best for team honour and pride." 

Experience 

Spanish star Jimenez, who has won 19 tournaments in 28 years on the European Tour, believes he can draw on his Ryder Cup experiences to help secure the trophy for Europe. 

"The EurAsia Cup is a very exciting event indeed and I can't wait to get to Malaysia for the tournament," said the 49-year-old, a six-time winner on the Asia Tour.

"We have Europe playing the USA at The Ryder Cup, and it is great to now have a fully sanctioned, official competition for the Europeans to play against the best from Asia. With so many world-class players now emerging from the Asian Tour, it is sure to be a close contest." 

And Jimenez used his unveiling in Hong Kong to announce the first four automatic qualifiers for his 10-man team will be Graeme McDowell, Jamie Donaldson, Victor Dubuisson and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, who secured their places on the team through their final positions in the 2013 Race to Dubai. 

The remaining spots in the European side will be taken from the leading four available players from the official World Golf Ranking on February 3, the playing captain and one captain's pick by Jimenez. 

McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion who secured the winning point at the Ryder Cup later the same year, said: "I am really looking forward to playing the EurAsia Cup. 

"It's a great concept to bring Asia and Europe together and I think it has a lot of potential to become a very big event."

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Henrik Stenson given Race to Dubai monthly award

Henrik Stenson has been named Race to Dubai golfer of the month for November.

The 37-year-old capped a superb season by secured top spot in the 2013 Race courtesy of victory in the DP World Tour Championship on 17 November.

The Swede becomes only the second player, after Welshman Ian Woosnam in 1987, to win three of the monthly awards in a single season.

Stenson's performance two weeks ago was hugely impressive as he stormed to a six-shot win after carding a record 25-under at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.

He is now ranked third in the world, behind American Tiger Woods and Australia's Adam Scott.

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Stenson hopes wrist will be OK for Sun City on Thursday

World number three Henrik Stenson still has concerns about his long-standing wrist problem as the Swede prepares to return to competitive action at this week's Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

Stenson was troubled by the injury in the last few weeks of the 2012-13 European Tour's season-ending Final Series but managed to finish the campaign on top of the money list.

"I have had a specialist looking at it and there are still minor issues but I am hoping to be ok this week," the 37-year-old told the tour website (www.europeantour.com) on Monday. 

"The 10 days' rest I had was really necessary and I will go and get another consultation on it during the early part of the Christmas break. 

"I was able to play through the whole Final Series with it and it wasn't so much about physical pain hitting golf shots, it was more the inflammation afterwards and the fact I knew there was structural damage in there." 

Stenson won the South African Open a year ago but had to withdraw from last month's event. 

"I had been putting a lot of pressure on the wrist for a whole month and was getting treatment every day, taking anti-inflammatory pills," he said. 

"I have spent more time in the ice bucket than a bottle of Moet and Chandon over the last month and I just had to rest it. 

"Once you are in a bad cycle you can't just keep putting pressure on it because your body can't take that. That was the case for me - I had to listen to what my body was telling me." 

The Nedbank Challenge in Sun City starts on Thursday.

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European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Leading money winners on the 2013/2014

European Tour Race to Dubai on Monday:

1	Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	287,470 euros
2	Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark)	193,464
3	Richard Finch (England)	172,500
4	Hennie Otto (South Africa)	116,610
5	Jbe Kruger (South Africa)	107,460
6	Ross Fisher (England)	91,020
7	Simon Dyson (England)	83,980
8	Romain Wattel (France)	79,800
9	Alejandro Canizares (Spain)	55,590
10	Soren Hansen (Denmark)	53,100
11	Marco Crespi (Italy)	49,720
12	Magnus A Carlsson (Sweden)	47,285
13	Simon Wakefield (England)	40,575
14	Johan Carlsson (Sweden)	40,105
15	Andy Sullivan (England)	38,550
16	Andrea Pavan (Italy)	32,850
17	Danny Willett (England)	30,900
18	Trevor Fisher Jnr (South Africa)	29,755
19	Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa)	29,156
20	Garth Mulroy (South Africa)	28,725

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Gutted Scott loses Midas touch and 'triple crown'

SYDNEY - World number two Adam Scott was left "gutted" on Sunday after the Midas touch deserted him and he blew a chance to cap the best year of his career with a rare Australian "triple crown" at Royal Sydney.

Everything Scott touched had turned to gold since he arrived back home last month for a four-tournament swing that quickly turned into a triumphant celebration of his becoming the first Australian to win the U.S. Masters.

Huge crowds thronged the courses as he won the Australian PGA in front of his friends and family on the Gold Coast and backed up for the first time in his career with a victory at the Australian Masters the following week.

His third place at the World Cup of Golf helped his country lift the trophy for the fifth time and he headed to the Australian Open bidding to do what only Robert Allenby had done before and win all of his country's marquee titles in one year.

A course record 10-under-par 62 in his first round at Royal Sydney gave him a three-stroke lead and, playing some brilliant golf, he topped the leaderboard for all but two holes over the rest of the tournament.

Unfortunately, the second of those two holes was the 72nd and final one of the tournament, where his second bogey of the day allowed Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy to snatch the Stonehaven Cup from his grasp.

"I just made an error on the last, misjudged the wind and hit too much club into the last, so that's the way it goes," he told reporters of his approach that soared over the back of the green to leave a tricky up-and-down that he failed to muster. 

"I felt I did everything right. I was concerned about how I was going to hit it today because I haven't been swinging the club very well for the last two weeks and I played really nicely and the putter didn't behave itself. 

PUTTING WOES 

"So it's just the way golf is. I'm gutted. I felt like I never had a better chance to win the Aussie Open but it was tight the whole back nine. Rory played so good." 

Having lipped out or shaved the cup on a string of chances to extend his lead over the back nine, Scott's distinctive long putter bore the brunt of his frustration. 

"Nothing was going my way on the greens today," he said. 

"I could have put this thing away I think early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, like it did the rest of the week but I just misjudged into the last and a player as good as Rory is going to take that opportunity." 

With a crowd of around 20,000 flocking to the course on Sunday, Scott has earned comparisons with Greg Norman in his pomp in terms of his pulling power Down Under. 

Although his last hole meltdown reminded some of the Adam Scott who gave up a four-shot lead with four holes to play to hand the British Open to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham in 2012, it is unlikely to dent his popularity too much back home. 

Scott said he was not going to let it ruin a stellar season, during which he also won the Barclays. 

"It's been a great year," he said. "Obviously I didn't want to finish like that (but) I'll get over this tonight and look forward to a few weeks rest and get ready to go next year."

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European Tour Dunhill Championship scores

Scores from the European Tour Dunhill Championship at the par-72 course on Sunday in Malelane

271	Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	68 68 67 68
275	Richard Finch (Britain)	68 70 67 70
278	Ross Fisher (Britain)	72 65 72 69
	Simon Dyson (Britain)	72 69 70 67
	Romain Wattel (France)	70 69 68 71
279	Soren Hansen (Denmark)	72 65 71 71
280	Magnus Carlsson (Sweden)	70 72 72 66
	Simon Wakefield (Britain)	74 68 70 68
281	Danny Willett (Britain)	69 70 73 69
	Warren Abery (South Africa)	73 71 69 68
282	Victor Riu (France)	68 71 67 76
	Andrea Pavan (Italy)	72 71 74 65
	David Drysdale (Britain)	68 72 72 70
283	Garrick Porteous (Britain)	71 69 74 69
	Andy Sullivan (Britain)	71 72 70 70
284	Tyrone Van Aswegen (South Africa)	70 68 72 74
	Allan Versfeld (South Africa)	66 77 69 72
	Ricardo Santos (Portugal)	66 74 72 72
	James Kingston (South Africa)	69 74 70 71
	Lucas Bjerregaard (Denmark)	72 72 67 73
	Morten Madsen (Denmark)	65 71 79 69
	Brendon De Jonge (Zimbabwe)	73 69 68 74
285	Alejandro Canizares (Spain)	74 69 68 74
286	Brinson Paolini (U.S.)	73 71 69 73
	Steve Webster (Britain)	71 73 73 69
	Kevin Phelan (Ireland)	70 74 68 74
	Hennie Otto (South Africa)	69 71 69 77
	Hendrik Buhrmann (South Africa)	72 72 72 70
287	Titch Moore (South Africa)	71 69 73 74
	Alex Haindl (South Africa)	71 73 70 73
	Daniel Brooks (Britain)	70 74 73 70
	Carlos Del Moral (Spain)	73 71 66 77
	Adrien Saddier (France)	72 71 72 72
	Kim Si-Hwan (South Korea)	70 69 74 74
	Niclas Fasth (Sweden)	72 68 73 74
	Jaco Van Zyl (South Africa)	70 72 73 72
288	Francois Calmels (France)	74 68 75 71
	Robert Rock (Britain)	75 69 73 71
	Oliver Fisher (Britain)	71 73 72 72
	Matthew Nixon (Britain)	72 71 71 74
	Tjaart Van der Walt (South Africa)	70 74 74 70
	Ruan De Smidt (South Africa)	69 74 73 72
	Johan Carlsson (Sweden)	73 70 79 66
289	John Parry (Britain)	70 73 74 72
	Jorge Campillo (Spain)	70 70 75 74
	Ryan Cairns (Zimbabwe)	70 71 76 72
	Garth Mulroy (South Africa)	76 67 68 78
	Yubin Jung (South Africa)	73 70 73 73
	Haydn Porteous (South Africa)	72 69 78 70
	Michael Hollick (South Africa)	69 70 74 76
	Graeme Storm (Britain)	72 68 77 72
290	Gareth Maybin (Britain)	69 75 71 75
	JJ Senekal (South Africa)	72 72 80 66
	Lee Slattery (Britain)	73 71 75 71
	Alexander Levy (France)	73 68 74 75
	Jbe Kruger (South Africa)	74 68 81 67
292	Chris Doak (Britain)	69 73 76 74
	Damien McGrane (Ireland)	72 72 74 74
293	Andrew Curlewis (South Africa)	70 73 72 78
294	Jens Dantorp (Sweden)	70 71 75 78
295	Jaco Ahlers (South Africa)	71 71 79 74
297	Justin Walters (South Africa)	76 68 79 74
	Jacques Blaauw (South Africa)	76 68 73 80
298	JG Claassen (South Africa)	70 73 76 79
	Charl Coetzee (South Africa)	70 72 71 85
299	Tyrone Ferreira (South Africa)	72 70 81 76
302	Mark Williams (South Africa)	76 68 87 71

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