Marc Leishman bounces back from 2015 troubles to cruise home at Sun City

Marc Leishman is sprayed with champagne after winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge by six shots (Getty)

Australia’s Marc Leishman ended a trying year on a high after cruising to victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City to claim his first European Tour title and complete an Australian double.

Following compatriot Nathan Holman’s win in the Australian PGA Championship earlier in the day, Leishman carded a closing 67 in South Africa to finish 19 under par, six shots clear of Henrik Stenson.

England’s Chris Wood was a distant third on nine under with defending champion Danny Willett, Victor Dubuisson, Robert Streb and Branden Grace joint fourth on eight under.

Leishman pulled out of the Masters in April after his wife Audrey fell seriously ill with toxic shock syndrome, a rare but life-threatening bacterial infection during which she was put into an induced coma. She is now recovering but Leishman feared the worst and was prepared to give up golf to care for their two young children.

“I’m pretty happy to have this year over, to be honest,” the 32-year-old said. “Audrey got very sick and I lost an uncle who I was very close to. This tops off what was otherwise not a great year. Three weeks ago we moved into a new house, so this will help pay for that.”

Leishman began the day with a one-shot lead and found himself three ahead when he birdied the seventh and playing partner Stenson bogeyed the same hole after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Stenson bounced back with a birdie from 15 feet on the eighth and both players birdied the ninth and 10th before Leishman, who lost a play-off to Zach Johnson for the Open at St Andrews in July, extended his lead thanks to a superb approach to the 13th which span back to within inches of the hole.

Leishman also birdied the 15th and 16th and although Stenson chipped in on the next, the result was never in doubt.

“It’s amazing. I’m so happy,” added Leishman, who could reach a career-best 26th in the world when the rankings are updated today. “It’s not very often you can walk up 18 with a good cushion and enjoy it.”