Johannesburg – Four-time Major champion Ernie Els is set to make a record 17th appearance in the $6.5 million (approximately R67 million) Nedbank Golf Challenge after confirming his place in this year's tournament at the Gary Player Country Club from 5-8 December.
Els was originally scheduled to play in Tiger Woods' World Challenge in the same week as the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
He, however, decided to support a tournament he has won three times and earned a record amount of prize money from its 32-year history.
“I'm really looking forward to coming back and playing such a special event,” Els said.
Els won “Africa's Major” in 1999, 2000 and 2002 and he also has four runner-up finishes and has twice finished third.
His last appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge was in 2010.
Els heads back to Sun City having won the BMW International Open on the European Tour this year.
He also finished tied fourth in the US Open, tied 11th in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and made his eighth appearance in the Presidents Cup.
“We are delighted to have Ernie in the field,” said Sun International's Tournament Director Alastair Roper.
“He is an institution in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and has been its most popular and successful player ever since his debut in 1992.
“Ernie's career has overlapped with some of the greatest milestones in the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, so it's wonderful that he's in the new 30-man field and part of this new era in the tournament.” – Sapa