Max Homa takes first international title with Nedbank victory - ESPN

SUN CITY, South Africa — Max Homa finally can say he is an international winner.

Homa shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa for his first victory abroad.

He finished at 19 under for the tournament, 4 shots ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard to add to his six PGA Tour career titles.

Homa secured the win with a final round that included six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys. He pulled away after consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, where he drained a 38-footer on the par-3.

«It's kind of what you dream of. You want to be in the fight, and it was just fun to kind of close it out at the end,» he said. «It was one of those weeks the ball wanted to go in when it needed to go in.»

Hojgaard, who played against Homa at the Ryder Cup, had four birdies in a bogey-free final-round 68. Fellow Danish player Thorbjorn Olesen finished third after a 3-under 69 that included two bogeys and a double-bogey in his final seven holes.

Homa hadn't played since Oct. 1 at the Ryder Cup in Italy, where he collected 3½ points to be the highest scorer for the U.S. in its loss to Europe. His last stroke-play event had been the Fortinet Championship in mid-September.

«It's just been tremendous to get to travel to a new place, meet so amazing people,» Homa said. «The fans have been amazing; everyone has been so welcoming and kind. To be granted the opportunity to even be here, I was truly grateful for, but to come out with a trophy is just cherry on top.»

Homa played all four rounds in the 60s this week, including a 66 in the opening round at Gary Player Country Club.

Considered by some as «Africa's Major,» the Nedbank Golf Challenge was the next-to-last event of the season in Europe ahead of next week's DP