LEE WESTWOOD comfortably held off all challengers to retain the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa yesterday.

The Worksop golfer, who established a seven-shot lead for the final round after a course-record 62 on Saturday, closed with a one-over-par 73 to win by two shots.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson finished second, with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell and American Jason Dufner two shots further adrift on 11 under par at the Sun City resort.

Westwood finished with successive bogies, but it did not matter as his dominance was never seriously threatened. Birdies on the sixth and ninth helped the 38-year-old’s cause, before a bogey on the 12th.

Although his finish was unspectacular, it did not prevent the world number three claiming a first prize of almost €932,000.

Westwood told the post-match presentation ceremony: “I’ve been coming here a long time, this is the ninth time, and it’s special every time I come.

“I love playing this course and yesterday was probably the best round I’ve ever played. It set me up to play conservatively today. It’s very satisfying.

“It’s all right when things go well and you are top of the rankings but when you drop to 270 you find out more about the real person.

“So to get invited back here and win back-to-back titles is a bit special.

“Yesterday was very special. I drove well and made a few putts, which you’ve got to do round any course when you make 10 under.”

Westwood’s successful defence has taken him into an automatic qualifying place in Europe’s Ryder Cup race.

The event did not count towards the European money list, but it did carry world ranking points and lifted him to eighth on the combined cup standings.

McDowell made good ground to close on Westwood, before his challenge faded on the back nine as he double-bogeyed the 15th and dropped another shot on the next hole.

The 32-year-old told Sky Sports: “Today kind of summed up the week – I made some mistakes at the wrong time.

“I might have been in the mix but maybe pushed a bit hard last night and there was the double on the 17th – but all in all I’m happy with my game.”

Karlsson also made steady progress yesterday, until his hopes of turning the screw in the closing stages faltered when he found sand on the par-three 16th.

However, the Swede got the shot back when he birdied the 17th and made sure of second place when he made par on the last.

Kim Kyung-Tae finished fifth with a fourth round of 70, while home hope Charl Schwartzel was two shots further back on six under after a 72 today.

England’s world number one Luke Donald also managed a 72 to finish a further shot adrift in seventh, a shot clear of Germany’s Martin Kaymer – who slipped out of contention with a final round 76.