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Schwartzel seals victory in Madrid

29/04/2007

South African Charl Schwartzel snatched victory at a rain-affected Spanish Open by one stroke in Madrid.

Schwartzel carded a final round of 16 under par to finish one shot ahead of India's Jyoti Randhawa.

Home favourite Carlos Rodiles finished on 14 under, a stroke ahead of English duo Simon Dyson and Mark Foster.

Schwartzel said he was delighted with his play and paid tribute to caddie Ricci Roberts.

"I have always enjoyed playing in Spain in the past and have done pretty well here so I always felt my first win outside South Africa might come here and so it has turned out," Schwartzel said.

"Having Ricci [Roberts] on the bag is just superb. He had caddied for Ernie (Els) for about 16 years and they both fancied a change and when I asked if he wanted to caddie for me, I was very happy when he said yes.

"He has so much experience and has seen it all and done it all with something like 50 wins alongside Ernie so I just felt that experience helped give me an advantage.

"I had been playing well but I was just lacking that edge and I think Ricci gave me that, maybe gave me that one shot edge I had been lacking."

The 22-year-old pockets a winners' cheque for £226,150 and moves up to sixth in the European Tour of Merit.

Along with the rest of the field, Schwartzel had to return to complete his third round this morning after torrential rain.

Schwartzel was three under after nine holes, two strokes behind the leader Randhawa.

But the South African battled back with a birdie on the 14th followed by an eagle on the 15th.

Despite a bogey five at the final hole, Schwartzel's rivals could not capitalise to give the rising star his second win on the European Tour.

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