Nedbank Golf Challenge boasts major champions but no American players
The Nedbank Golf Challenge, taking place at the Sun City casino resort in South Africa in early December, is often dubbed “Africa’s major” because it boasts a $5 million purse to be spread
out amongst an exclusive 12-man field. The eventual winner this year will receive $1.2 million, representing the biggest golf payout in Africa. The field for the event, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was announced today and while there are numerous
major champions scheduled to play, there is a noticeable lack of American talent.
Lee Westwood, number-two in the world, as well as major winners Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, and Louis Oosthuizen will tee it up in South Africa. They will be joined by
European Ryder Cup players Miguel Angel Jimenez, Ross Fisher, and Edoardo Molinari. Defending champion Robert Allenby, as well as Anders Hansen, Justin Rose, and Tim Clark will round out the limited field.
There are no American players in the field and only two players (Els and Westwood) reside in the top-10. It certainly doesn’t help that the Tiger Woods-hosted Chevron World Challenge runs
the same week in California.
"Our aim is to secure the participation of 12 top-ranked players in the world but that is unrealistic," said tournament director Alastair Roper. "Tiger Woods hosts the Chevron World Challenge
which is scheduled for the same week, and this puts us in a difficult position. The lack of top American players in the field is unfortunate.”
But Roper, who described Westwood’s inclusion as “most pleasing,” still looks forward to a great week.
“Judging by the form shown by our invitees this year it is fair to assume that we can look forward to a thrilling contest,” he said.
The South-African Els, who is always a local favourite among the fans in this event, will enter the tournament coming off his recent win at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf earlier this week.
Els is a three-time winner of the Nedbank, hoisting the trophy in 1999, 2000, and 2002.
But you can be sure that all twelve players will be vying for the big payout, one of the biggest in golf.
“To put this amount into perspective, only the major championships and World Golf Championship events have a larger first prize, and then only marginally,” said Roper.
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