As was the case then, Goosen, a two-time US Open Champion, held off New Zealand's Michael Campbell, this time by firing a closing 1-under 71 for an impressive 21-under 276 at Yalong Bay Golf Club that gave him a three-shot victory - and his 21st career win.

"It's a great feeling to defend a title," the delighted Goosen said.

"It's the first time I've won a professional title back-to-back. I've only done it before as an amateur, so it will be great coming back next year to give myself a chance of making it a hat-trick," he added.

Campbell, also a former US Open champion, closed with a 4-under 68, but while it was good enough to edge him past unheralded Scott Simon Dunn by a shot, It was never going to be enough to close the six-shot gap that had existed between him and Goosen at the start of the round.

Things might not have gone the way they did, though if Goosen had missed a confidence-boosting eight-foot putt to save par at the 13th hole.

Although the chasing pack never really got closer enough to seriously threaten him, the World No 7 said he had been having a "frustrating up-and-down day" until then and had "made a lot of bad mistakes"

"I think that putt on 13 sort of settled me down as I wasn't sure what Dunn was doing ahead of me," Goosen admitted.

"If I hadn't parred that my lead would have been been cut to two or so, so it really was a turn-around moment for me and kept me going and kept me in front," he added.

Even so, Dunn enjoyed his career best finish on the Asian Tour when he came in third, four behind the Goosen,he,like Campbell, also having closed with a 68.

Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng grabbed a share of fourth place with England's Yasin Ali thanks to a blistering 64, but Chinese Taipei's Lu Wen-teh, playing in the final group with Goosen, settled for sixth place on 274 after slumping to a 2-over 74..

Campbell admitted that his plan to catch Goosen early had backfired.

"I think I just pushed too hard too soon. I wanted to make some early birdies and went in there too hard and it cost me two bogies.

"I was two over for the round before I knew what had hit me, and it was just too hard to come back from that," he said.

"But," he warned, "I'll be back next year, I'll be back."

Dunn was delighted to have given the two the Major champions a run for their money with his five-birdie round.

"I played well to finish a few shots behind some of the best players in the world and that's a great finish for me," he said.

LEADING FINAL SCORES
(Par 72)

267 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 64-65-67-71

270 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 64-68-70-68

271 - Simon Dunn (SCO) 68-69-66-68

273 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74-70-65-64, Yasin Ali (ENG) 66-69-69-69

274 - Lu Wen-teh (TPE) 63-69-69-73

277 - Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 72-68-64-73

278 - Frankie Minoza (PHI) 73-69-67-69

279 - Iain Steel (MAS) 75-69-68-67, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) 72-69-70-68, Adam Blyth (AUS) 69-71-70-69, Ross Bain (SCO) 68-67-74-70, Unho Park (AUS) 72-71-65-71

280 - Prom Meesawat (THA) 72-69-68-71, Kane Webber (AUS) 70-69-68-73, Li Chao (CHN) 70-70-67-73, Michael Wright (AUS) 70-72-65-73

281 - Chapchai Nirat (THA) 73-68-72-68, Wang Ter-chang (TPE) 74-70-69-68, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 72-73-67-69, Lu Wei-lan (TPE) 70-70-71-70, Anthony Kang (USA) 70-68-71-72, Tony Lascuna (PHI) 68-72-67-74

282 - Danny Chia (MAS) 67-71-76-68, Corey Harris (USA) 73-70-70-69, Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 72-69-70-71, Simon Griffiths (ENG) 73-69-65-75