Paisley in surprise win
Brit hails caddie wife after SA Open success
ENGLAND’S Chris Paisley defied the odds near Johannesburg on Sunday to win the South African Open, his maiden European Tour triumph, then hailed his wife for her starring role as his caddie.
The 31-year-old carded a sixbirdie final-round 66 at a sundrenched Glendower Golf Club for a total of 267 and a threestroke triumph over South African Branden Grace, who closed with a 68. It was the first tournament in which Paisley had his bag carried by his wife, Keri, and he praised her at the prize-giving.
“Unbelievable! I just cannot say enough about how good a job she did this week,” the golfer said.
“She never put a foot wrong. It is the first time she ever caddied.
“I cannot thank Keri enough,” the Briton from Hexham, a town in northeastern England, said. “I still cannot believe I have won the SA Open.
“Going head to head with Branden this afternoon was tough.
“Honestly, I did not think I was capable of playing that well and finishing top of the leaderboard.”
Paisley is ranked 289 in the world – and the Briton’s only previous professional win was in the second-tier European Challenge six years ago.
Grace trailed Paisley by a shot into the final round, but was expected to win – given his far higher ranking of 30, greater experience and home support. Within two holes, eight-time European Tour champion Grace nudged ahead, thanks to an eagle three, and many in the gallery believed Paisley would quickly crack under the pressure.
But the Englishman held his nerve and moved into a two-shot lead after the sixth, which the South African double-bogeyed.
By the turn, Paisley, 29, had stretched his advantage to three shots and never looked like faltering on the back nine. He did find a bunker at 15, but got down in two, effectively closing the door on any chance Grace had.
Grace claimed two eagles and three birdies, but a double-bogey and a bogey stained his card.
Andy Sullivan won the event in 2015 and Graeme Storm triumphed last year, leaving Paisley to make it three victories in four editions for English golfers.
Paisley, who narrowly avoided being relegated to the Challenge Tour this year, was steady all week, picking up 24 birdies and conceding only three bogeys.