Lee Westwood wins in Sun City as Luke Donald struggles

Westwood is the world number three having been as low as 259 in 2002

Defending champion Lee Westwood shot a one-over-par final round 73 to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Sun City resort in South Africa.

The Englishman finished two shots clear of Robert Karlsson, while world number one Luke Donald was 10 shots behind.

"To win back-to-back titles is a bit special," said Westwood, who started the day seven shots clear of the field.

Donald saw his lead in the Race to Dubai cut by Rory McIlroy after the US Open champion won the Hong Kong Open.

The world number one is bidding to become the first player to top both the US and European tours in the same year and remains confident he can clinch top spot.

"I didn't expect anything less from Rory. I turned on and saw he was having a good day and some of the guys ahead of him weren't putting too much pressure on him," Donald said after ending a quiet return from a five-week lay-off with a level-par 72 for seventh place in Sun City.

"I knew he'd put the pressure on me and make it tough going but I've still got a nice comfortable lead. I think the advantage is still in my court."

McIlroy can prevent Donald from topping the European money list if he wins the Dubai World Championship and the Englishman finishes 10th or worse.

Westwood, currently third in the world, said: "I've been coming here a long time - this is the ninth time - and it's special every time I come.

"Yesterday [Saturday] was probably the best round I've ever played. It set me up to play conservatively today. It's very satisfying."

The Englishman, 38, started the day with a huge lead after shooting a course-record 62 in the third round but struggled to replicate that form on the final day, hitting just two birdies and dropping three strokes on the back nine, including a bogey on the last.

But Westwood held on to become the sixth golfer to successfully defend the title and secure the winner's cheque of $1.25m.

Karlsson made seven birdies in a final-round charge but also dropped three shots to finish two shots clear of American Jason Dufner and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell on 11 under.

"Today [Saturday] kind of summed up the week - I made some mistakes at the wrong time," said McDowell.

"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."