Danny Willett gets the excitement back after boosting Race To Dubai hopes in South Africa

The Sheffield golfer’s chances of finishing the season as European number one looked all but over after he struggled for the first two rounds in South Africa.

But he shot rounds of five under par and three under over the final two days to surge up the leaderboard for a tied for 11th finish on three under par.

“I’ve not been excited about playing golf for a few weeks and it’s nice to be again,” Willett said.

“Over the last couple of days I’ve woke up and things have felt a little better and a little better.

“It doesn’t always mean you’re going to play well but it’s getting back to that stage.

“It’s nice to get a good finish around a golf course that I really like.

“Things we’re working on, everything feels better so I’m a little bit more happy going into next week.”

Despite his impressive turnaround, Willett still lost ground on Race To Dubai leader Henrik Stenson who finished outright eighth in Sun City, three shots ahead of the 29-year-old.

Willett now trails Stenson by 299,676 points heading into the season’s final event next week, the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

He said: “We finished fourth there last year but as a golf course, it doesn’t necessarily suit my game.

“I’m not massive off the tee and I can’t take out the bunkers but it does reward really good mid-iron play.”

Leader Stenson said: “Danny’s always going to have a chance. I’m going to have a chance.”

Alex Noren was the runaway winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, finishing six shots ahead of the field on -14.

Sheffield’s Matt Fitzpatrick finished in a tie for 20th after firing a two over par final round of 74, with a double bogey on 17 proving his main downfall.