Jim Furyk overcame his first dropped shots of the week to successfully defend the Nedbank Challenge title in Sun City today.

Furyk carded a final round of 74 for a 12-under-par total of 276 and a two-shot victory over Sweden's Henrik Stenson, with Ireland's Padraig Harrington third on eight-under-par.

Stenson's 69 was the lowest round of a testing last day which saw Harrington, who started the final round in second place, struggle to a 75.

Furyk had not carded a single bogey in his first three rounds but eventually dropped a shot on the third and also bogeyed the eighth, 11th and 12th.

However, birdies on the first, sixth and ninth were enough to keep him clear of the chasing pack and he could even afford the luxury of another bogey on the 18th.

Local favourite Ernie Els was fourth on seven-under, ahead of fellow South Africans Charl Schwartzel and Retief Goosen.

Scotland's Colin Montgomerie propped up the 12-man field after a closing 76 left him 22 shots off the lead on 10-over-par.