It could have all gone so wrong for Ockie Strydom when he dunked his approach in the water next to the ninth green at Leopard Creek on Sunday. But he made four birdies in five holes immediately after the turn to seal a two-stroke win in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

It was a victory which has elevated a career noted as much for his 16 runner-up finishes on the Sunshine Tour as it is for his single title in 2019. His win bumps him to a to-year exemption on the DP World Tour, and into another playing universe – radically different to his 14-year journey on the local circuit.

“I think my plans have just changed a little bit,” he laughed. “I was going to be playing a lot on the Sunshine Tour next year, but all of a sudden, it’s DP World Tour now. I probably have to get all my flights in order and everything ready for Abu Dhabi.”

He started the day in a share of the lead with a proven winner in Scott Jamieson on Scotland, and, after a run of five birdies in the first five holes, he made a birdie on the drivable par-four sixth to pull himself one clear. But he dropped a shot on the tough par-three seventh. He regained it on the eighth to go back into the lead as Jamieson could not get into red figures for the round.

Then came the ninth: Jamieson actually led the way into the water, and Strydom, who should have been more aware of the situation, followed him in by firing at the difficult flag. They both made double bogey, and it was easy to believe that Strydom might find the pressure of trying to break back into the lead – which he now shared with Spaniard Adrian Otaegui – might have been too much.

Instead, he made birdies with brilliant approaches on each of the 10^th, 11^th, 13^th and 15^th to pull three strokes clear heading into the final three holes.

The signature hole, the 13^th, often belies its spectacular view with some difficult golf for the players. “We were actually in two minds between going for it or laying it up,” said Strydom. “But it was a perfect five-iron in. It just stopped rolling on me and ended up in the bunker. But I hit a phenomenal bunker shot and a great downhill putt and I think that just eased things up a little bit for me.”

He left himself a few putts of decidedly knee-trembling length on the final three holes for par, but he made them all through a combination of smart play and his putting stroke which was impressive all week.

Those who have won twice or more say the second win is actually harder than the first. After the ninth, Strydom looked as if he might not get to that second trophy. But he made it look easy, even if it was anything but.

“My parents are probably crying at home; my wife is crying at home,” he said. “The people here have been fantastic. My host here was wonderful this week, and a lot of credit must go to him. And my caddie was unbelievable.

“It’s my favourite place, this. The course is looking the best I’ve ever seen it. It’s the bush. I’m calm in the bush. My first win was in the bush, and now here I am again in the bush!”