South African golf legend Ernie Els will bring added star power to an already impressive field at the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player - the seventh Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai - from November 14-17.
The four-time Major winner has enjoyed great success at the Gary Player Country Club, claiming the title three times in 1999, 2000 and 2002. He became the third three-time winner of the prestigious event after David Frost and Nick Price while Lee Westwood became the fourth player to join that prestigious list last year by wrapping up a hat-trick of victories for his maiden Rolex Series triumph.
Els’ most recent Nedbank Golf Challenge victory came just a few months after he triumphed in The Open for the first time, adding to the two US Open titles he had claimed in 1994 and 1997.
The former World No I famously went on to lift the Claret Jug a second time in 2012, making it 71 career victories worldwide, including two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Matchplay titles.
Els will also tee it up for the 40th anniversary of Sun City and Gary Player Country Club as the current captain of the Presidents Cup International team, which will take on Tiger Woods’ United States side in Melbourne in December.
Els said: “It’s always a pleasure to play in South Africa and particularly at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. I’ve got some great memories of the tournament particularly from my three wins. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to support the event as it has continued to grow over the years.
“I’m looking forward to a busy end of the year with the Presidents Cup coming up in December. I’m pleased that I can include some competitive golf on home soil in that schedule, and I’m sure it will be a memorable week, especially with the 40th anniversary celebrations.”
Playersaid: “I am thrilled that golf fans will once again be treated to seeing one of the finest golfers in history competing at the Gary Player Country Club for this Rolex Series event. Ernie’s success in the Nedbank Golf Challenge is perhaps outshone only by his constant and loyal support of this tournament over the years, which has been invaluable. I look forward to shaking the big man’s hand on the first tee once again.”
Mike Brown, chief executive Nedbank Group: “Ernie is the most successful golfer in the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and for many local golf fans he has been the face of South African golf and of ‘Africa’s Major’. Ernie is a global giant of the game who has always represented South Africa with pride.”
Ernie Els, captain of the International Team at the 2018 Presidents Cup, sits in front of a beach house at Brighton in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: AP Photo/Dennis Passa
Els joins a field that includes fellow South African Major winner Louis Oosthuizen and another countryman in Branden Grace, who claimed his first Rolex Series title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge two years ago.
The field also includes European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and English Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Westwood.
The Nedbank Golf Challenge will enhance its status as one of world golf’s elite tournaments this season with an increase in both the first place prizemoney and Race to Dubai points - the winner of the 2019 title will take home $2.5-million, an increase on the $1.25m won by Westwood last year. The overall prize fund remains at $7.5m, with the balance of the 63-player field from second place onwards playing for a $5m prize fund.
This year’s tournament also offers an increased haul of Race to Dubai points from 7 500 to 10 000.