Flawless Schwartzel takes Masters

6:35pm Sunday 12th October 2008

Charl Schwartzel won the Madrid Masters, after a flawless five-under-par 66 in the final round left him three shots ahead of second-placed Ricardo Gonzalez.

The South African had a one-shot lead heading into the final round following scores of 69, 64 and 66 on the par-71 Club de Campo course - and he was in imperious form again, racking up two birdies on the front nine and three more on the way back.

Argentinian Gonzalez, who came from nowhere with a nine-under-par 62 in the third round, threatened in patches to overthrow the South African at the top of the leaderboard - as did Englishman Robert Rock, who launched an early assault on the way to a stunning seven-under-par 64. But ultimately the classy Schwartzel was too strong.

A steady front nine with a birdie on each of the par-fives meant he reached the turn two under - and then he turned the screw, accelerating ahead of the chasing pack with

Pablo Larrazabal, the third player in the leading group, had two early birdies but lacked the same spark which ignited his nine-under 62 on Saturday - and a 67 meant he finished 15 under.

Englishman Paul Waring shot a two-under 69 to finish sixth on 12 under - while Jose Maria Olazabal, making his third career comeback from injury and fatigue, finished way down the pack after a final-round 73 left him two over for the tournament.

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