Nedbank Golf Challenge

NEDBANK

GOLF CHALLENGE 2-5 December 2010

EQUIPMENT

What’s hot for 2011

Africa’s major celebrates

30 years of the finest golf

SA Golf

going from strength to strength

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Contents NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

22

06 A warm welcome From the Nedbank Golf Challenge organisers and sponsors

76

10 SPONSORS FOR 2010 Thank you to this year’s sponsors 12 30 years of entertainment Africa’s Major sets the golfing stage alight with another year of the finest golf 17 The field Features, stats and facts on the defending champion and the rest of the field

110 The glorious state of SA golf Louis Oosthuizen’s win earlier this year attests to the fact that South Africa continues to produce among the best golfers in the world 114 greening the greens Striving for a carbon-neutral event 118 Roll of honour Winners, final scores and money earned in the tournament since 1981

48 Three extra special decades Same venue, 30 years, three decades of the most extraordinary golfing highlights

94

57 Older statesmen Eight players from the Champions Tour join the field this year 76 Good for the game?

How Tiger’s absence has affected the golf arena 84 What’s hot for 2011 A guide to must-have equipment for the new year 94 One for the ages The Gary Player Country Club continues to set a stern yet fair test for the world’s best

84

FOR SUN INTERNATIONAL Tournament chairman John Lee Tournament director Alastair Roper Event manager Leedam Vercellino Photography Grant Leversha, Gettyimages.com Sun International Public Relations Sue Klerck, Thoko Qoboza, Funiwe September Sponsor Liaisons Leedam Vercellino, Irooshka Govindsamy, Elardus Senekal For The Publishing Partnership Editor Matthew Pearce Managing editor Wendy Maritz Art director Tara Keane Copy Editor Irene Stewart Executive directors Mark Beare, John Morkel Advertising sales Ryan Stramrood, Lee-Anne Mostert, Nic Morkel. For sales enquiries for the 2011 Nedbank Golf Challenge programme, please call Nic Morkel on tel: 021-488-5926 or cell: 082-468-6490. Photographs: Grant Leversha, Getty Images/Gallo Images, courtesy Sunshine Tour.

Produced for Sun International by The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd, PO Box 15054, Vlaeberg, 8018. Copyright Sun International 2010. Editorial and sales enquiries: Tel 021-424-3517, Fax 021-424-3612, email info@tppsa.co.za. The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or Sun International.

The Publishing Partnership (Pty) Ltd and Sun International do not accept any responsibility for information published. Reproduction: Hirt & Carter. Printing: Paarlweb Gauteng.

For information on sponsorship and hospitality opportunities at the 2011 Nedbank Golf Challenge, phone Leedam Vercellino on 011-780-7471, Irooshka Govindsamy on 011-780-7067 or Elardus Senekal on 011-780-7431

04

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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WELCOME

S

ince 1981, the Nedbank Golf Challenge has featured some of the world’s best golfers at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City. It’s no small wonder as Africa’s Major is one of the world’s richest tournaments, with a total prize value of $5 million.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of this exclusive tournament and we are pulling out all the stops to make this the most memorable valli moosa international event in the history of the tournament. chairman, We are delighted to Sun international limited welcome defending champion, Robert Allenby and we extend a warm welcome to all the other players who are returning once again and to those who will participate for the first time. In light of the celebratory nature of this year’s tournament, the event will also feature The Nedbank Seniors Challenge, which includes eight over-50 champions, some of whom are previous winners.

Together with our valued sponsors, we have maximised our marketing investment, as we want to entertain spectators.

Last year we recorded more than 65 000 spectators and we expect record crowds this year, particularly as fans will get to see double the action. For the first time, not only will fans be able to see the best players in the world battle it out on the fairways of the Gary Player Country Club, but this year they will be entertained by some of South Africa’s leading musicians and entertainers.

Sun International has for many years been deeply involved in introducing strong environmental disciplines at Sun City, which will be in place throughout the tournament and will be further refined going forward. Every aspect affecting the carbon footprint of the event, such as CO² emissions, total energy consumption and the recycling of waste will be monitored. All diesel generators on the golf course have been replaced by electrical units, thereby reducing course emissions and limiting energy-related emissions to the resort as a whole.

One of the biggest gains has been in the reduction of water consumption in course irrigation. Instead of utilising clean water, grey water is now being used.

We wish you all a wonderful tournament and may this be the most exciting and enjoyable Nedbank Golf Challenge ever.

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NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

T

he 2010 Nedbank Golf Challenge marks the 30th anniversary of this flagship event on the South African sporting and social calendar. We have a very special field this year and the inclusion of golfing legends for a two-day seniors’ event will make this year even more memorable.

Regarded as Africa’s Major, the Nedbank Golf Challenge has a long and illustrious history dating back to the Million Dollar Challenge in 1981 when MIKE BROWN Nedbank sponsored the chief executive, Nedbank 14th hole. Over time, the bank’s sponsorship grew steadily, culminating in Nedbank taking over the title sponsorship in 1996. The event and our partnership with Sun International have gone from strength to strength ever since.

Nedbank’s commitment to the environment is unparalleled and we achieved a number of milestones during 2010.

Achieving carbon neutrality made us the first bank in Africa to do so and the completion of phase two of the Nedbank headoffice building in Sandton created the first commercial building in South Africa to receive a green-star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is set to be the first ‘green’ golf event in Africa. Our efforts to encourage sustainable business practices have been acknowledged with Nedbank receiving the Sustainable Bank of The Year award from the Financial Times and the Ernst & Young financial reporting award as the best company in the financial services sector and third best on the JSE. Nedbank remains committed to raising the profile of golf domestically and our golfing investments include the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open and support of the First Swing golf clinics for children with disabilities. As the official banking partner to the Sunshine Tour, we are also the proud sponsor of the Nedbank Affinity Cup Pro-Am, a South African PGA Tour event.

The Sports Trust Challenge, a fundraising event staged by Nedbank and Sun International will take place on 6 December and raises R1 million annually for sports development.

I would like to thank David Coutts-Trotter, Alastair Roper and the team at Sun International for the efforts that have gone into making the 30th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge a truly memorable event.

Thank you for your attendance at this significant milestone.

I trust you will have a fantastic time at Africa’s Major.

WELCOME

W

e are proud to welcome twelve of the world’s finest golfers to the 30th Anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. This year is a special occasion for Sun International as it marks the sustained success of our most important company event, one we are justifiably proud of.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge gives us the opportunity to showcase our ability to deliver john lee a world-class event to over a billion sports tournament chairman fans worldwide.

The success of the Nedbank Golf Challenge can be attributed to numerous factors, but mainly it is due to the continued support of our loyal sponsors, and the relationship we have built up with the players and their families over the years.

The tournament is scheduled annually at the beginning of December, so it takes place at the conclusion of the PGA Tour and European Tour, thus allowing players the opportunity to enjoy a truly exceptional tournament that is financially rewarding and allows for some quality family time.

I would like to thank the companies that participate in the Sports Trust Golf Day, which takes place on Monday 6 December. This event raises more than R1 million each year.

The Sports Trust was established in 1995 and helps to build active communities through the medium of sport. Through its various initiatives, more than R42.5-million has been invested in the provision of sporting equipment and the upgrading of facilities in outlying or previously disadvantaged communities.

The trust also focuses on identifying talent among young sportsmen and sportswomen and nurturing that talent through coaching, training and support programmes.

I’d like to extend my congratulations and thanks to Alastair Roper and all the people intimately involved in assembling a tournament of this magnitude. It is their excellent preparation and dedication that has made the Nedbank Golf Challenge the world-class golf tournament it is today.

I hope the players of both tournaments – The Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Nedbank Seniors Challenge – enjoy this spectacular anniversary tournament as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

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NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

W

elcome to the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

2010 is the 30th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, a milestone in its illustrious history. Back in 1981, no one could have predicted that the tournament would one day be acknowledged as Africa’s Major.

This year’s anniversary event will be fiercely contested by twelve of the world’s most celebrated players, including local champions Ernie Els, Retief david couttsGoosen, Tim Clark and, trotter for the first time, winner of the Open Championship, chief executive, Louis Oosthuizen. A strong Sun international limited international contingent of players led by Lee Westwood, ranked number one in the world, includes an intriguing mix of talent – Italian sensation Edoardo Molinari, Justin Rose, Ross Fisher, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Anders Hansen and defending champion, Robert Allenby.

This year, teeing up alongside these eminent golfers will be eight of the game’s most recognisable over-50 champions: Nick Price and David Frost, as well as previous winners Mark McNulty and Fulton Allem. We are also delighted to welcome Americans Jay Haas, Fred Funk, Jeff Sluman and Tommy Armour III. Their appearance will definitely add lustre to the 30th anniversary and provide the galleries with double the entertainment.

The manner in which this tournament has progressed and the international and local exposure it receives is a great accomplishment to the people involved. Thank you to all our sponsors, who once again have assisted in making this event the major spectacle it has become. I’d like to say a special word of appreciation to our title sponsor Nedbank for their ongoing support and loyalty and to SuperSport for their extensive television coverage. I’d also like to thank the Sunshine Tour for their continued support of the tournament.

The event is televised live for four days, with a viewership of close to 1.4 billion worldwide. The tournament is broadcasted to over 140 countries. Events of this stature bring great global awareness to South Africa which has significant tourism benefits.

Three decades have passed since the inaugural event and what began as an ‘exhibition of golf’ has developed into a fully fledged tournament complete with official world ranking status.

The tournament has indisputably become the greatest showcase of golf on the African continent. Enjoy!

SPONSORS THANKS

A BIG THANK YOU Sun International and the Nedbank Golf Challege Tournament Organising Committee express their warmest thanks to the loyal and dedicated sponsors who have supported this event

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NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

1928

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1941

Continuing its tradition of advertising firsts, Bulova airs the first television commercial ,Bulova works with the U.S. government to produce military watches, specialized timepieces, aircraft instruments, critical torpedo mechanisms and fuses.

1952

Bulova begins developing Accutron, the first breakthrough in timekeeping technology in over 300 years. Accutron, the first fully electronic watch.

1960

NASA asks Bulova to incorporate Accutron into its computers for the space program. Bulova timing mechanisms eventually become an integral part of 46 missions of the U.S. Space Program.

Accutron, the first watch to keep time through electronics, is introduced. It is the most spectacular breakthrough in timekeeping since the invention of the wristwatch. The Accutron watch goes on to become a presidential gift to world leaders and other dignitaries.

1962

The Accutron watch becomes the first wristwatch certified for use by railroad personnel.

1967

Accutron clocks are the only clocks aboard Air Force One.

1968

The Bulova Satellite Clock, the world's first public clock regulated by time signals from orbiting satellites.

1969

An Accutron watch movement is part of the equipment placed on the moon by Apollo 11 astronauts, the first men on the moon.

1987

Bulova becomes the official supplier to the U.S. Olympic team, providing watches for both the winter games in Calgary and the summer games in Seoul.

1996

A Gallup survey and the Fairchild 100 report rank Bulova fourth in consumer awareness in the combined watch and jewelry industries.

2000

On October 4, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani proclaims Bulova Day in New York City

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FROM THE FIRST TEE

30 years of entertainment In a year that has been more than significant in the sporting arena in South Africa, the Nedbank Golf Challenge celebrates its 30th year with an outstanding field, a seniors’ challenge and much more...

I

t is indeed fitting that in this 30th anniversary year of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, we will witness the return to Sun City of Ernie Els after a two-year absence. If anniversaries provide us with a natural time in which to reflect on the highlights of years past, The Big Easy would certainly feature in a number of those.

Before opting not to take up his invitation to the 2008 and 2009 events, Els had played in a record 16 consecutive events here, starting off in 1992 after he had made his astonishing breakthrough on the Sunshine Tour and continuing through his world record-setting stint of consecutive weeks in the world’s top 10.

With the greatest respect to Lee Westwood (who has this year displaced Tiger Woods from the number one spot on the world ranking) and the remainder of the field, Els’ return will be the main attraction for this year’s celebrations.

His presence alongside three other South Africans – Retief Goosen, Tim Clark and Louis Oosthuizen – will give the home crowds plenty to cheer for against a formidable European challenge which includes five of Colin Montgomerie’s victorious Ryder Cup team.

It will provide a particularly poignant moment should Open Champion Oosthuizen get the opportunity to play alongside Els. Or, even better, go toe-to-toe with him on Sunday for the title, given the massive influence the Ernie Els Fancourt Foundation had on establishing Oosthuizen in his formative years and introducing him to the professional game.

Australian Robert Allenby will defend the title he won in such dramatic style a year ago in a play-off against the 2008 champion Henrik Stenson, while for the first time, the spot in the field reserved for the winner of the previous year’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit will be filled by a non-South African, Denmark’s Anders Hansen.

In recent years the event has faced stiff competition for invites by the Chevron World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods, which falls on the same weekend and which can be a more attractive option for US-based players.

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NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

However, what this event has proved time and again in its three-decade history is that it will always attract a highquality field and produce a mixture of incredibly tight finishes, individual performances that simply have to be marvelled at, or indeed an irresistible combination of the two.

Els has been involved in plenty of those dramatic moments, setting the scoring record during his first victory in 1999 and taking the first ever $2-million pay cheque in golf in a sudden death play-off against Westwood a year later, yet also being on the receiving end of play-off defeats against Colin Montgomerie and Sergio Garcia.

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FROM THE FIRST TEE

Only three players – Els, David Frost and Nick Price – have raised the famous crystal golf ball trophy, and the handsome cheque that goes with it, on three occasions. So it is further fitting that in this anniversary year, all three should be in action at the Gary Player Country Club.

The event promoters and hosts, Sun International, and principle sponsor Nedbank have always looked to improve the product that they deliver each year and, in 2010, they have combined to lay on a golf and social feast for the tens of thousands of corporate guests and spectators that will stream through the turnstiles.

Starting inside the ropes, cue the introduction of eight Champions Tour professionals competing in their own 36-hole event on Thursday and Friday, ahead of the main field, with four of the eight being former NGC champions, Price, Frost, Mark McNulty and Fulton Allem.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday after the completion of play, provincial teams of four from around South Africa will compete in a national long-driving contest from the first tee, with some additional entertainment on the Saturday in the form of a golf clinic for spectators and sporting greats André Joubert, Shaun Pollock, Albie Morkel and Shaun Bartlett who will be showing off their long-driving skills.

Then from 5pm to 7pm each day, in the public hospitality village area, four of South Africa’s leading bands will provide live entertainment to end each day, free to all spectators and guests.

Looking around the world of golf in 2010, it has become increasingly clear that even in the most high-profile events, the standard of play is so high that anyone qualifying to play in any given event has the talent to win, and so it is with this field of twelve.

The crowds will have their favourites, for sure, but the combination of skill on the course and the entertainment off it will provide a proper tribute to the principles upon which this tournament was founded in 1981: attracting some of the world’s finest golfers to one of the world’s finest leisure resorts to provide an unforgettable kick-start to South Africa’s summer festive season.

Enjoy Africa’s Major; unforgettable in each of its 30 years.

>> Long-driving Contest

Where: First tee When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday What time: 4.30pm each day, depending on regular tournament play finishing on time

>> Post-golf entertainment

Where: Public Hospitality Village When: Thursday to Sunday inclusive What time: 5pm to 7pm daily Who: Prime Circle (Thursday), Parlotones (Friday), Freshlyground (Saturday), Watershed (Sunday)

by the numbers KEY NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE STATS PRIZE-MONEY BREAKDOWN FOR 2010 First place: $1 250 000 Seventh place: $300 000 Second place: $660 000 Eighth place: $290 000 Third place: $450 000 Ninth place: $280 000 Fourth place: $350 000 Tenth place: $270 000 Fifth place: $330 000 Eleventh place: $260 000 Sixth place: $310 000 Twelfth place: $250 000 MULTIPLE WINNERS Three times Ernie Els 1999, 2000, 2002 Nick Price 1993, 1997, 1998 David Frost 1989, 1990, 1992

Twice Jim Furyk 2005, 2006 Sergio Garcia 2001, 2003 Bernhard Langer 1985, 1991 Seve Ballesteros 1983, 1984

ALL-TIME MONEY EARNERS (Number of events in brackets) Ernie Els (16) $7 971 000 Nick Price (14) $4 667 000 Sergio Garcia (8) $4 307 500 David Frost (10) $3 642 500 Jim Furyk (7) $3 262 800 Retief Goosen (8) $3 243 300 Bernhard Langer (14) $2 982 500 Henrik Stenson (4) $2 700 000 Colin Montgomerie (10) $2 480 000 Nick Faldo (10) $1 930 800 LOWEST ROUNDS 61 – Padraig Harrington (2001)* 63 – Nick Watney (2009), Henrik Stenson (2008), Ernie Els (2002), Sergio Garcia (2001)* 64 – Angel Cabrera (2005), John Huston (2000), Colin Montgomerie (2000), Ernie Els (1999), Darren Clarke (1999), Jim Furyk (1998), Nick Faldo (1994) MOST SUB-PAR ROUNDS Ernie Els 46 Nick Price 42 Bernhard Langer 38 Colin Montgomerie 26 David Frost 25

Retief Goosen 24 Nick Faldo 21 Lee Westwood 19 Sergio Garcia 19 Seve Ballesteros 18

BEST WINNING SCORES -25 – Ernie Els (1999) -24 – Nick Price (1993) -21 – Henrik Stenson (2008) -21 – Ernie Els (2002) -20 – Sergio Garcia (2001)

-20 -16 -16 -16 -15

HIGHEST WINNING SCORES -4 – David Frost (1990) -6 – Jim Furyk (2005) -6 – Mark McNulty (1986)

– – – – –

Ernie Els (2000) Trevor Immelman (2007) Nick Faldo (1994) Bernhard Langer (1991) Nick Price (1998)

-7 – Retief Goosen (2004) -8 – Raymond Floyd (1982)

*Note that Harrington and Garcia’s scores were recorded with lift, clean and place applicable due to course conditions.

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NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

PL AY ER PRO FI L E

What’s in the bag?

DRIVER

IRONS

WEDGES PUTTER

BALL

One of golf’s true gentlemen, Robert Allenby returns to Sun City as the defending champion, and he’ll be aiming to join the elite group of four players who have successfully defended their titles here – David Frost, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk.

Currently the highest-ranked Australian player in the world, the affable Aussie has won 22 professional tournaments during a career that spans 18 years.

From his very first year on the Australasian Tour, Allenby showed that he could challenge strongly at the highest level, and he topped his home Order of Merit. This unusual achievement was not that surprising, as he had won the Victoria Open, a Tour event, as an amateur the year prior to joining the paid ranks.

Allenby won his first European Tour event in 1994, the Honda Open, and in the 1996 season, he added three more trophies to his collection – the English and French Opens and the British Masters.

After gaining his PGA Tour card via the Tour Qualifying School for the 1999 season, he made a somewhat tentative start to his US campaign finishing outside the top 100 on the money list, but from the 2000 season onwards, he has been the model of consistency, even though he has won only four

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times in the US. His first two BiographY victories on the PGA Tour BORN 12 July 1971 came in 2000, the Houston TURNED PRO 1991 and Western Opens, and FAMILY Wife, Sarah; one son, one daughter then he won another two SPECIAL INTERESTS Fishing tournaments a year later.

HIGHLIGHTS Seven international Since then he has never victories (four on PGA Tour), five Presidents Cup appearances finished outside the top 50 on 2010 MAJORS Masters: T-45; US the money list, and his career Open: T-29; Open: T-27; PGA: DNP earnings have passed the 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Five Top-10s on PGA Tour, second at the $24 million mark.

Players Championship The man from Melbourne WORLD RANKING 22 achieved the rare feat of BEST NGC RECORD Three appearances, defending champion winning Australia’s ‘Triple Crown’ in 2005, with Number crunch triumphs in the Australian (PGA TOUR) Open, the PGA Championship DRIVING DISTANCE 289.1 yards (82nd) and the Masters – the first GREENS IN REGULATION player to do this. He is also 68.17 (63rd) a regular choice for the PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.770 (64th) International President’s Cup SCORING AVERAGE 70.08 (13th) team, and has played in the WORLD MONEY LIST event five times since 1994. $2 974 997 (20th) Statistics correct through the Amazingly, of Allenby’s four Tour Championship victories on the PGA Tour and his four in Europe, no less than seven came after play-offs – it was perhaps appropriate that the Aussie should triumph in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in the same way.

This may have been his first win in four years, but he didn’t have to wait very long to lift another trophy. After his victory in Sun City, Allenby won his third Australian PGA Championship – his 13th title on the Australasian Tour.

Allenby is committed to raising money for charity, and he is the patron and spokesperson for Challenge Cancer Support Network, which has raised more than $9 million.

Should Miguel Angel Jimenez and Robert Allenby find themselves drawn together in this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, they might well discuss Allenby’s first European Tour win; it was the Spaniard he beat in the play-off.

robert allenby NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

17

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When Tim Clark posted his eighth runner-up finish at the Bob Hope Classic earlier this year, he and Robert Allenby had a chat. The man from Umkomaas lamented his frustrating inability to get the job done – to win his first PGA Tour event.

‘I said to him, “Mate, you’ve just got to be patient, you’ve just got to keep putting yourself in there for a chance on the last day”,’ Allenby recalls.

The Australian had gone 223 starts without a win compared with Clark’s 205 – they were kindred spirits, and although Allenby might have encouraged the disconsolate South African, he probably never imagined that when Clark did break his duck, it was to be at his expense. ‘Lo and behold, he beat me,’ said Allenby, after Clark won the most important event of his career – The Players Championship.

One of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour had finally tasted victory in America, and by outplaying the stellar field at the TPC Sawgrass course. The Durban-born professional began the final round three shots off the pace, but he fired a round of 67, beating his friend Allenby by a shot. ‘It’s easy to sit on the outside and make judgements and

comments as to why guys aren’t winning, but we’re out there ... we’re trying hard and it doesn’t work.’

Clark had said that he had been so frustrated with his play leading up to the Players, that he put his clubs away for the best part of two weeks before arriving at Ponte Vedra where he and his wife, Candice, shared a house with Luke Donald and his family. Still, Clark had played on the Monday prior to the tournament often credited with being the ‘fifth major’. He had committed to compete in a Pro-Am to raise money for the golf programme at his alma mater, North Carolina State.

He had dinner at his friend Carl Petterson’s house that night with their college coach Richard Sykes, and it was while talking to Sykes that the topic of the Crowne Plaza Invitational came up – Clark had finished second there two years in a row, in 2009 throwing away a golden opportunity after leading going into the final round. ‘Why don’t you just go ahead and win the Players, and get it over with,’ said Sykes, who was naturally overjoyed when Clark finally put the winless jinx behind him.

‘He’s certainly capable of playing any course, and he won on the one they call the most diabolical,’ he said. ‘He told me

TIM CLARK NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

19

he had raised his hands up an inch, and his swing felt good, like it did in college,’ continued Sykes.

Before this watershed victory, it could hardly have been said that Clark struggled on Tour, and including his earnings this season, his many near misses and might-have-beens have netted him more than $17 million, and although he may not be the longest of hitters, he is certainly one of the straightest.

Having first picked up a golf club at the age of three and taught by his father to play the game, he showed all the signs of being an exceptional player during his time in the junior ranks, and was an accomplished golfer by the time he attended North Carolina State University. While at college he earned the coveted ACC Player of the Year title, the same year he won the Amateur Public Links Championship, which earned him an invitation to the 1998 US Masters.

Later that year he turned professional, and immediately made his presence felt. On the Canadian Tour, Clark won the 1998 New Brunswick Open and the Canadian PGA Championship, after which he campaigned on the Nike Tour.

After winning twice on the ‘second tier’ Tour, he gained exemption to the PGA Tour, although in his first year, a wrist injury cut short his season. Playing on a medical exemption

20

NE D BAN K G O L F C HA L L ENGE 2 0 1 0

the following year, he BiographY cemented his place on BORN 17 December 1975 Tour and has been a TURNED PRO 1998 regular contender since.

FAMILY Wife, Candice SPECIAL INTERESTS Darts, pool, Although victory on the ping pong, remote-control planes PGA Tour may have eluded HIGHLIGHTS Two-time SA Open him for a while, the friendly champion, three Presidents Cup appearances Natalian has long been 2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US considered a serious force, Open: T-12; Open Championship: and he has more than a few MC; PGA: T-39 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won the creditable performances in Players Championship, four other the majors – including a third top-10 finishes on PGA Tour place finish in the 2003 PGA WORLD RANKING 32 BEST NGC RECORD Three Championships, a third place appearances, tied third in 2009 in the 2005 US Open, and a sole second in the 2006 Number crunch (PGA TOUR) Masters. He has twice won the South African Open (in DRIVING DISTANCE 272.2 yards (188th) 2002 and 2005), and also GREENS IN REGULATION in 2005 he won the Scottish 66.73% (99th) Open, the year that saw him PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.756 (33rd) enter the top 20 in the World SCORING AVERAGE 70.20 (20th) Ranking for the first time.

WORLD MONEY LIST In 2008 Clark won the $3 530 002 (13th) Statistics correct through the Australian Open after a Tour Championship play-off with Matthew Goggin, and a year later there was that lapse at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Bogeying the final hole to force a play-off with Steve Stricker and Steve Merino, and then missing a two-metre putt on the first extra hole which would have won him the title, must have hurt, but he soldiered on.

Clark has admitted that he prefers the shorter golf courses or at least those that reward accurate play, but he has proven that even on courses as long as Augusta National and the Gary Player Country Club, he can more than hold his own against the best in the world.

He is a master of course management, and his precision striking is the envy of many of his peers. Add to this his deft clutch-putting with the long-shafted putter and his vastly improved chipping, once something of an Achilles heel for him, he must be considered to be the complete player.

He has been an obvious choice to do duty for the International team in the Presidents Cup, and competed in the 2003, 2005 and 2009 events. His team captain Gary Player referred to him as ‘The Bulldog’ for his dogged determination on the course.

What’s in the bag?

DRIVER

IRONS

WEDGES PUTTER

BALL

TaylorMade R9 SuperTri Srixon I-404 Cleveland CG14 Odyssey White Hot (long) Srixon Z-Star

HE returns after a season that suggests he could become the first player to win four nedbank golf challenge titles

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he ‘Big Easy’ has become the most successful South African golfer since Gary Player, and after more than two decades of competing on the world stage, he has become revered by many and respected by all. In South Africa he draws an army of fanatical supporters, and wherever he plays in the world many of his fellow professionals can be seen watching him hit balls on the range with that trademark effortless, powerful swing. More than a few golfers would gladly swap techniques with him.

Ernie Els makes a welcome return to Sun City this year for what will be his 17th Nedbank Golf Challenge, having made his debut in this event in 1992. Since then he has won three titles (1999, 2000 and 2002), and has twice been beaten in a play-off (by Colin Montgomerie in 1996 and Sergio Garcia in 2001).

He also holds the tournament record of 25-under par, which many believe was the finest four-round display of golf ever seen not only in Sun City but in the country. In his 16 appearances in this event, he has earned considerably more than any player – over $7 million – and he now returns to his successful hunting ground after a season that suggests that he could well become the first player in the event’s 30-year history to win four Nedbank Golf Challenge titles.

Many young professionals can only dream of achieving a fraction of what Els has managed to do on the golf course, and in a pro career that spans 21 years, he has indelibly written his name into the record books. The man from Kempton Park has spent more time ranked in the top 10 of the World Rankings than any player – more than 750 weeks, and although he has three Major titles to his name, he has won 59 other professional events, including an unprecedented seven World Match Play titles.

This included a run of three consecutive victories in the one-on-one event which had also never been done before.

He has twice won the European Order of Merit, made more remarkable by the fact that he has spent so much time campaigning on both sides of the Atlantic as well as other parts of the world. Not since Gary Player, one of his sporting heroes, has a South African sportsman travelled as extensively and enjoyed so much success.

It was at the beginning of the 2007 season that the laidback Els decided to rededicate himself to the game, declaring that he had formulated a three-year plan during which he would make a concerted effort to regain the number one spot, which he has held in the past. The same year he missed the cut at the US Masters, which ended a streak of making consecutive cuts on both the PGA and European Tours. His record in the US dated back to The Players Championship in 2004 (a total of 46 consecutive cuts made), and on the European Tour his streak extended back to the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic.

Early in the 2008 season, after a winless period on the PGA Tour that dated back to the 2004 American Express Championship, Els won the Honda Classic by a shot from Luke Donald, and a month later he announced that he would be changing coaches – moving from David Leadbetter to Butch Harmon.

But it was not until this season that the considerable amount of hard work he has put in on the practice tee paid dividends, and he would return to his winning ways on the PGA Tour.

It was obvious early on in this season that Els would again be a force to be reckoned with, due in part to his improved putting, and after a respectable 12th place showing in the Sony Open, he finished fifth in San Diego two weeks later. Another top 10 followed in the Northern Trust Open, and although he failed to make it past the second round in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, he would only have to wait a month before winning back-to-back tournaments.

The first was in the WGC-CA Championship where he outplayed his countryman Charl Schwartzel in the final round at the ‘Blue Monster’ at Doral. A week later, a typical display of brilliant shot-making yielded the Arnold Palmer Invitational title. Other noteworthy performances this year included a third place in the Valero Texas Open and the US Open, and a seventh place in The Tour Championship. In the season-ending Grand Slam event, his birdie-blitz over the final stretch, three in the final five holes, saw him edge out David Toms and pocket another $600 000.

Perhaps competing in Sun City is something of a doubleedged sword for Els – he is on home turf playing a course that he knows intimately, but he is often hounded by the media and

ERNIE ELS NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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BiographY BORN 17 October 1969 TURNED PRO 1989 FAMILY Wife, Liezl; one daughter, one son SPECIAL INTERESTS Movies, reading, sports HIGHLIGHTS Three-time major champion, 44 international victories, six Presidents Cup appearances 2010 MAJORS Masters: T-18; US Open: 3; Open Championship: MC; PGA: T-18 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won WGC-CA Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Grand Slam of Golf WORLD RANKING 12 BEST NGC RECORD 16 appearances, champion in 1999, 2000 and 2002

Number crunch (PGA TOUR)

DRIVING DISTANCE 288.4 yards (92nd) GREENS IN REGULATION 67.86% (74th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.768 (58th) SCORING AVERAGE 69.79 (6th) WORLD MONEY LIST $4 703 055 (4th) Statistics correct through the Tour Championship

his many fans. Everyone wants a piece of Ernie, and the bookmakers will do a brisk trade on wagers for Els to shoot the low of the day every day, and to win the event.

It was a mystery to his myriad supporters as to why he took so long to establish himself as the King of this course – seven appearances before his first win – but once he unlocked the secret of scoring around the Gary Player Country Club’s track, there seemed to be no stopping him. Still fresh in the memory of many fans is that extraordinary display when he brought this fearsome golf course to its knees, when Colin Montgomerie, playing with Els in the final round, could only look on in awe.

‘Monty’ had himself fired a round of 65 in a bid to reel in

What’s in the bag?

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Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Callaway Tour Authentic X Callaway X-Forged Odyssey White Hot Tour #5 Callaway Tour I(s)

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

the local favourite, but to no avail. The way he played the 17th hole when he was up against Lee Westwood in the 2000 play-off is also indelibly etched on the memories of those who were there – after a perfect tee shot, a nine-iron caressed to within two metres of the hole, he was left with a putt worth $2 million.

Facing what he later described as ‘the longest six-footer I will ever have in my life’, he calmly stroked the putt home to thunderous applause, and history was made.

Also well remembered was when, a year later, Els seemed to be in cruise control during the final round, and his victory seemed a mere formality. But ahead of Els was a fired-up Sergio Garcia, who blazed round in 63, his round including a bogey on the final hole.

This set up another play-off, and after Els had found the middle of the green with his tee shot on the par-3 16th, and Garcia had missed the putting surface, it seemed that at worst the two would share honours on the hole and play on.

It was then that Garcia produced a stroke of genius, coaxing in his delicate chip into the hole. When Els missed his putt, there were disbelieving groans from his fans, many of whom are convinced that he is immortal.

The fact that Els has chosen not to accept his invitation to the biggest golf event in South Africa over the past few years obviously disappointed his devotees, but he has had his reasons: he wanted to spend time with his family at this time of the year and perhaps he also felt that he was not playing well enough to win. He is certainly playing well enough now, and he will be welcomed back with open arms. Hopefully his admirers will give him a break and allow him to do what he does best – prove that he can beat the best players in the world and, on this course, beat them convincingly.

Earlier this year Ernie Els was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, and he will be inducted in May 2011.

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Much was expected of Ross Fisher when he turned professional, and he hasn’t disappointed. Playing out of the famous Wentworth Golf Club in Surrey where he began playing the game at the age of three, Fisher has converted his excellent ball-striking skills into a victory on the European Tour every year since his maiden win in the 2007 KLM Open, and each season he has improved his position on the European Order of Merit. Known as an excellent driver of the ball, his all-round skills have steadily improved, and as he has already proved, he is a serious contender for Major honours.

Although winless on the 2005 Challenge Tour, he has finished in the top 10 eight times, and earned sufficient money to gain promotion onto the European Tour. During his rookie year he comfortably retained his card by finishing in 66th place on the money list.

Fisher’s improvement was then dramatic, and besides his first victory in 2007, he improved his stroke average, adding three top-10 finishes and other strong showings, and moved up the money list almost doubling his earnings of the year before (from €1 836 530 to €2 531 183).

The 2008 season saw Fisher’s improvement continue, and after a blistering opening round of 63 in the European Open, he cruised to victory by seven shots. The season also included a number of near misses; he tied for second in the HSBC

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Champions and the Alfred BiographY Dunhill Championship, and BORN 22 November 1980 finished third in the MercedesTURNED PRO 2004 Benz Championship and the FAMILY Wife, Joanne; one daughter SPECIAL INTERESTS Computer Portugal Masters. He finished games, movies, cars in sixth place on the Order of HIGHLIGHTS Four European Merit with earnings of more Tour wins, made Ryder Cup debut in 2010 than €1.8 million.

2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US It was clear from the Open: MC; Open Championship: beginning of 2009 that T-37; PGA: MC 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Irish Open, Ross Fisher was destined to second at BMW International Open establish himself as one of the WORLD RANKING 29 best players in the world, and BEST NGC RECORD One appearance, tied third in 2009 his season earnings rocketed past the €2.5 million mark.

Number crunch A highlight was his victory in (EUROPEAN TOUR) the Volvo World Match Play DRIVING DISTANCE 292.4 yards (43rd) Championship, beating GREENS IN REGULATION Anthony Kim on the 36th hole.

71.1% (26th) The Englishman finished the PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.776 (56th) year as the best performer in SCORING AVERAGE 70.81 (27th) all four Majors.

WORLD MONEY LIST Besides being part of $1 580 065 (62nd) Statistics correct through the the European team that Tour Championship triumphed in the Ryder Cup, 2010 yielded another victory for Fisher – in the Irish Open.

In last year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, Ross Fisher proved that the Gary Player Country Club’s layout was ideally suited to his powerful, accurate ballstriking, and as a first-timer he finished on 10-under par, sharing third place with Tim Clark.

Before taking a well-earned break after the Portugal Masters, Fisher took part in a pro putting contest for charity, something he feels strongly about. ‘Seeing some of the world’s greatest golfing talents competing against each other, all in the name of charity, was fantastic,’ he says. ‘It was a great combination of fundraising fun with a true competitive edge.’

As seen in the Ryder Cup, Fisher does not lack a competitive edge. Should he get the bit between his teeth on a course ideally suited to his game, he could be difficult to catch this week.

ROSS FISHER NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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Retief Goosen is no stranger to the Nedbank Golf Challenge – he had a convincing six-shot win in 2004, after being beaten in a play-off for the title by Sergio Garcia the year before.

Goosen has achieved remarkable success with 44 professional titles around the world, including a pair of US Opens, and although he has at times suffered the occasional slump, he has always bounced back and is widely considered to be one of the most impressive ball-strikers in the world.

In the 2007 Nedbank Golf Challenge, ‘The Goose’ suffered the ignominy of finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard. That year, as well as the following season, Goosen played well below his best. Much of this loss of form was due to swing changes; for the first time in his career, Goosen decided to consult a coach, and it would be a while before BiographY he returned to his best.

BORN 3 February 1969 The start of the 2007 TURNED PRO 1990 season looked like the FAMILY Wife, Tracy; one son, beginning of another extended one daughter SPECIAL INTERESTS Water skiing, spell of success. He dramatiall sports cally finished birdie-eagle to HIGHLIGHTS 2001 and 2004 US snatch victory in the Qatar Open champion, won European Tour Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002 Masters. He also, not for the 2010 MAJORS Masters: T-38; US first time, made his presence Open: T-58; Open Championship: felt at the US Masters, 6; PGA T-55 2010 HIGHLIGHTS 11 top 10s on finishing in second two PGA Tour, finished 10th on FedEx strokes adrift of Zack Johnson.

Cup standings But after this, he clearly WORLD RANKING 18 BEST NGC RECORD Seven struggled – for the remainder appearances, champion in 2004 of the season the best he could manage was a tie for Number crunch (PGA TOUR) 15th in the BMW Asia Open, DRIVING DISTANCE and after having spent a total 291.4 yards (61st) of 250 weeks in the top 10 GREENS IN REGULATION of the World Rankings, he 65.96% (119th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) slipped out of the top 20. One 1.766 (48th) of a few highlights during this SCORING AVERAGE 69.67 (4th) otherwise bleak period was WORLD MONEY LIST $3 297 158 (16th) his win over Jim Furyk in the Statistics correct through the Presidents Cup singles.

Tour Championship The beginning of the 2008

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TaylorMade R9 SuperTri TaylorMade R9 TP TaylorMade xFT TP TaylorMade Spider (belly) TaylorMade Penta TP

season brought more problems, and after undergoing corrective laser eye surgery prior to defending his title in Qatar, Goosen had to return to his London home for further medical treatment. Prior to the WGC-CA Championship, Goosen had dropped to 40th in the World Rankings, but after reverting back to the use of an old putter, he showed encouraging signs by finishing in second place.

Further signs of his return to form came at the WGCBridgestone Invitational, where he finished only two strokes behind Vijay Singh in fourth place. At the end of this season, his victory in the Asian Tour’s Iskandor Johor Open extended his incredible record of winning a professional tournament every year since 1995. Since then, Goosen has enjoyed runs of excellent form, and after his win in the Africa Open, he followed up with another trophy at the Transitions Championship, where it was obvious that the work he had done on his swing and a new fitness regime were paying dividends.

The last two seasons have been two of his best on the PGA Tour, with $6.5 million in earnings. This year Goosen has been a model of consistency, compiling 11 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour and finishing 10th on the FedEx Cup standings.

All he needs now is a win to cap a successful year.

In last year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge Goosen won a Volvo for holing his second shot on the 17th hole.

RETIEF GOOSEN 28

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Š 2010 Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. #1 Driver in Golf claim based on combined 2009 wins and usage on the PGA, European, Japan Golf, Nationwide, Champions and LPGA Tours, as reported by the Darrell Survey Co. and Sports Marketing Surveys, Ltd.

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DRIVER TaylorMade Burner SuperFast TP IRONS TaylorMade R9 TP WEDGES TaylorMade xFT TP PUTTER Odyssey Black Series BALL TaylorMade Penta TP

Born in Sønderborg, Denmark, Anders Hansen is one of an army of players from Scandinavia who burst onto the scene when it was least expected. He first competed in South Africa in 1996 and might have gone unnoticed as his performances were unremarkable. However, he soon proved that he had what it takes to make a living playing the game, and a good living at that. He received his invitation to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge due to his finishing top of the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit last season. He may well start as the underdog at the Gary Player Country Club, but he undoubtedly has the game to upset his more fancied rivals.

After turning professional in 1995, it took Hansen some time before he established himself, and it wasn’t until the 1999 season that he retained his playing privileges on the European Tour by finishing in the top 115 on the Order of Merit. He managed to finish in the top-60 money earners on that Tour from 2000 to 2009, with his maiden victory coming in 2002 at the Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth. That year he finished in a career-high 16th on the Order of Merit.

During the 2006 season, Hansen chalked up six top-10 finishes, the most noteworthy of these at the Desert Dubai Classic, where he finished in third place.

In 2007 Hansen qualified for the PGA Tour by earning fourth spot at the Qualifying School, but failed to earn enough

money during his rookie year BiographY to retain his Tour card. The BORN 16 September 1970 same year, he returned to the TURNED PRO 1995 European Tour and won his FAMILY Two daughters, one son SPECIAL INTERESTS Sports second PGA Championship.

HIGHLIGHTS Three European Tour Hansen would have to wait victories, won 2009 Sunshine Tour until 2009 for his third Tour Order of Merit 2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US victory, coming from behind Open DNP; Open Championship: to beat Andrew McLardy in MC; PGA: MC the Joburg Open.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS Third at Alfred Dunhill Championship and South Hansen had made an African Open inauspicious start at Royal WORLD RANKING 77 Johannesburg & Kensington, BEST NGC RECORD On debut making double-bogeys on Number crunch his first two holes, but after (EUROPEAN TOUR) recovering, he produced DRIVING DISTANCE a brilliant 65-66 over 283 yards (121st) GREENS IN REGULATION the weekend to finish the 71.4% (20th) a shot ahead of McLardy.

PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) A month later he won his 1.785 (73rd) SCORING AVERAGE 71.12 (48th) second event of the season, WORLD MONEY LIST the Vodacom Championship, $473 581 (228th) and after a sixth-place finish Statistics correct through the Tour Championship in the Telkom PGA Championship and two third places in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open, he easily topped the money list with more than R4.2 million, almost R2 million ahead of second-placed Charl Schwartzel.

The 2010 season did not start well for Hansen, and he missed the cut in his title defence of the Johannesburg Open.

The following week however, he finished eighth in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, his only top-10 finish in a year that was plagued by injury.

Hansen has occupied positions inside the top 50 of the World Ranking, and at one time he was the highest ranked Dane ahead of Thomas Bjorn. He has also represented his country in six WGC World Cups. He clearly plays some of his best golf in South Africa, and he will be hoping that he can reproduce the form that resulted in his superb performances on the Sunshine Tour.

ANDERS HANSEN NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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Few golf fans were surprised when Padraig Harrington claimed his first Major Championship title, but few would have believed that he would complete a hat-trick of Major Championships in so short a period of time.

After turning pro in 1995, Harrington didn’t have to wait long before claiming his first European Tour title when he won the 1996 Spanish Open. After this he was best known for his ability to finish second, and incredibly, late in the 1999 season, he finished runner-up in four of his last five events.

In 2000, Harrington returned to the winner’s circle, and the next four years he won at least one tournament every season.

He finished second on the European Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002, and third the following two years. He joined the PGA Tour in 2005, BiographY and achieved immediate success by winning the BORN 31 August 1971 TURNED PRO 1995 Honda Classic.

FAMILY Wife, Caroline; two sons Three months later he SPECIAL INTERESTS Family, famously holed a 65-foot movies, sports HIGHLIGHTS 2007 & 2008 Open eagle putt to deny Jim Furyk Champion, 2008 PGA Champion, and win the Barclays Classic. six Ryder Cup appearances The Irishman made his major 2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US Open T-22; Open Championship: breakthrough in 2007 by MC; PGA: MC beating Sergio Garcia in 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Iskandar a four-hole play-off at Johor Open on Asian Tour, second at Irish Open Carnoustie for The Open WORLD RANKING 21 Championship. The following BEST NGC RECORD Four year at Royal Birkdale a wrist appearances, third in 2006 injury threatened to keep him Number crunch from defending his title, (EUROPEAN TOUR) but he produced a brilliant DRIVING DISTANCE back-nine, which included 296.2 yards (19th) a spectacular eagle on GREENS IN REGULATION the penultimate hole to 64.4% (143rd) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) beat Greg Norman and 1.748 (13th) Ian Poulter.

SCORING AVERAGE 70.5 (9th) This victory moved him WORLD MONEY LIST $2 270 648 (41st) into third place in the Statistics correct through the World Rankings. Just Tour Championship three weeks later at

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DRIVER IRONS WEDGES PUTTER BALL

Wilson Smooth Wilson Pi5 Wilson Tw9 Odyssey Two-Ball Blade Titleist Pro V1x

Oakland Hills, Harrington would become the first European since Tommy Armour, 78 years before, to win the coveted Wannamaker Trophy.

He had not only secured his position as Europe’s number one player, but was also declared European and PGA Player of the Year. He also won the golf writer’s award for the Player of the Year on both sides of the Atlantic. The following year Harrington won the Irish PGA Championship for the fifth time, but by his standards his performances since 2008 have been below his best, and it was not until one of the Asian Tour’s recent marquee events, the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia that the amiable Irishman broke a winless drought that went back two years.

There are indeed horses for courses, and although he hasn’t yet won the coveted crystal trophy at Sun City, he does hold the unofficial course record. In 2001 he fired a round of 61 in the third round, and although due to heavy rains the lift, clean and place rule was in effect, this was still a remarkable feat.

On his return to Sun City the following year, he could only manage a tournament total of level par, and a year later he finished on two-under, well off the pace set by Retief Goosen and Sergio Garcia. But the affable Irishman is a very different player now, and coming off his recent victory he will surely believe that he can end the year on another high.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON 32

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One of the most popular professionals among his peers and golf fans, Miguel Angel Jimenez joined the European Tour in 1988 and has since racked up a total of 18 Tour victories. The likeable Spaniard has weathered periods of indifferent form only to bounce back, and he returns to Sun City having played some of the finest golf of his career this season.

Nicknamed ‘The Mechanic’ because of his love of working on his stable of high-performance cars, Jimenez claimed his first title in 1992 – the Belgian Open, but it was not until the 1998 and ’99 seasons that he established himself as one of Europe’s stars. During this period he won four times and in both years, he finished in fourth place on the European Order of Merit. He also finished as runner-up in the WGC American Express Championship, and for the first time earned his position on the European Ryder Cup team.

A few modest seasons followed, but in 2004 Jimenez again proved himself when he won three tournaments – more than any other player in Europe that year, and again finished fourth on the Order of Merit. His scintillating form was carried into the 2005 season, when he won the Hong Kong Open and the Wales Open, on a course where he performed with distinction in this year’s Ryder Cup.

Ping G15 Ping S56 Ping Tour-S Ping iWi Craz-E Srixon Z Star X

After a quiet period, the BiographY 2008 season saw Jimenez BORN 5 January 1964 return to his winning ways as TURNED PRO 1982 he added two more titles to FAMILY Wife, Montserrat; two sons his collection, a second Hong SPECIAL INTERESTS Cars Kong Open and the biggest HIGHLIGHTS 18 European victory of his career in the Tour victories, four Ryder Cup appearances BMW PGA Championship, 2010 MAJORS Masters: T-12; US where he beat Oliver Wilson Open: MC; Open Championship: in a play-off.

T-27; PGA: MC 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Dubai At the beginning of the Desert Classic, Open de France 2010 season, he showed and European Masters no signs of winding down WORLD RANKING 27 NGC RECORD Three appearances and in February he beat Lee Westwood in a play-off for Number crunch the Omega Desert Dubai (EUROPEAN TOUR) Classic. In July he was DRIVING DISTANCE 281.4 yards (135th) victorious in a play-off for GREENS IN REGULATION the French Open title, this 66.2% (112th) time against countryman PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.718 (3rd) Alejandro Canizares and SCORING AVERAGE 70.76 (22nd) Francesco Molinari. In the WORLD MONEY LIST European Masters, Jimenez $2 180 158 (42nd) Statistics correct through the completed a hat-trick of Tour Championship victories, again in a play-off, on this occasion against Edoardo Molinari.

Jimenez took up the game relatively late, after working at a golf club picking up balls on the range and then becoming a caddie. He was inspired by players such as Seve Ballesteros, Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance. It was when he caddied at Torrequebrada during the 1979 Spanish Open, that he decided to take up the game. It took a few visits to the Qualifying School before he became established on Tour, but since then he has earned more than €14 million.

Jimenez has played more than 500 tournaments on the European Tour, and is seen as one of the elder statesmen who is always happy to help the younger Tour players. With his deceptive length off the tee and his accurate iron play, he is easily capable of upstaging his younger opposition in Sun City.

MIGUEL A JIMENEZ NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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Since bursting onto the scene, Edoardo Molinari has confirmed the promise he showed as a junior. Few players in the history of the game have made so rapid a transition from the amateur ranks to the highest level on the professional tours, and Molinari’s achievements during the four years since turning professional are remarkable. He began playing golf at the age of eight after accompanying his father, now a retired architect, to his golf club in Turin.

He soon established himself as one of the best amateurs in Europe, and after winning the 1996 Under-16 English Boys Championship, he would go on to win his national amateur Championship, as well as twice winning the Italian Foursomes (once with his brother Francesco). He also won the Turkish Amateur, but the highlight BiographY of his unpaid career was his victory in the US Amateur in BORN 11 February 1981 TURNED PRO 2006 2005, when he became the FAMILY Not married first Italian and the first player SPECIAL INTERESTS Football from Europe to do so.

(Juventus FC), Internet HIGHLIGHTS Won World Cup After completing his for Italy with brother Francesco degree in Engineering at in 2009, made Ryder Cup debut the Polytechnic University in 2010 2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US of Turin in 2006, he turned Open: T-47; Open Championship: professional, and in his first T-27; PGA: T-33 year on the developmental 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Scottish Open and Johnnie Walker Challenge Tour, he won the Champs, five other top-5 finishes Columbia Open and the WORLD RANKING 17 Kenya Open. After finishing BEST NGC RECORD On debut 16th on the Challenge Tour’s Number crunch money list, he earned (EUROPEAN TOUR) exemption to play on the DRIVING DISTANCE European Tour, but a wrist 287.7 yards (84th) injury led to his play being GREENS IN REGULATION erratic and he returned to 75.1% (5th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) the Challenge Tour in 2009 1.782 (66th) where he dominated.

SCORING AVERAGE 70.69 (17th) During this season he won WORLD MONEY LIST $2 674 878 (27th) three tournaments, including Statistics correct through the the Piemonte Open in Turin.

Tour Championship He also recorded multiple

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TaylorMade R9 SuperTri TaylorMade R9 TP TaylorMade xFT Yes! Callie TaylorMade Penta TP

second-place finishes and topped the money list with earnings of almost €250 000.

At the end of 2009 he beat 2008 European Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson for the Dunlop Phoenix title in Japan.

A week later he teamed up with his brother, Francesco, to win the World Cup of Golf for his country. Amazingly, Molinari’s ranking at the beginning of 2009 was 753rd, but he ended the year in 48th place.

In March this year a second-place finish to Ernie Els in the Arnold Palmer Invitational earned him more than $500 000, and three months later he won the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

In August he won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, after a spectacular finish that included three consecutive birdies, and his World Ranking improved to 15. It was no surprise when Colin Montgomerie named him as one of his three ‘Captain’s Picks’ for the European Ryder Cup team, where he joined up with his brother.

Molinari is one of the most popular players on Tour, and his exciting brand of golf is matched by his volatile persona – it is clear that he loves playing the game at the highest level, and he certainly doesn’t hide his emotions. Commentators at the Ryder Cup often remarked how surprising it was that only a year ago this exciting Italian was playing on the Challenge Tour.

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Louis Oosthuizen

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Els says that from the first time he met young Louis, he was a quiet, polite little guy who let his clubs do most of the talking

ouis Oosthuizen has joined the illustrious company of Bobby Locke, Gary Player and Ernie Els as a South African golfer who has won The Open, and he did this in style. As a youngster, all he wanted to do was play golf and tennis, and at the age of 10 he decided to concentrate on golf, and a wise decision that turned out to be.

It may have been no surprise when Oosthuizen made his major breakthrough at St Andrews in The Open Championship, but no one could have expected that his victory would be so convincing. Should Oosthuizen manage to reproduce this form in Sun City, he could well become one of the few debutants in the Nedbank Golf Challenge’s history to claim the title.

Born in Mossel Bay, not far from the Ernie Els Foundation where his golfing skills were honed, the young Oosthuizen collected an impressive list of amateur titles including the Junior World Cup in 2000. A year later he earned the All Africa Games and the Transvaal Stroke Play titles. In 2002 he tied for the Indian Amateur Championship, and won the Irish and Natal Amateur Stroke Play Championships.

He had begun to develop a reputation as a deceptively powerful striker, and every player who has played either with him on provincial teams or against him, agrees that he is a thorough gentleman who simply loves playing the game.

His first taste of victory as a professional came in the Vodacom Origins tournament at Arabella in 2004, and although continuing to show all the signs of becoming a serious contender on the world stage, he had to wait until 2007 before he really got into his stride, winning three Sunshine Tour events – the Dimension Data Pro Am, the Telkom PGA Championship and the Platinum Classic.

It was clear that Oosthuizen was in for a very special 2010 when he won the Andalucía Open in March with a brilliant final round of 64, but the week before his maiden European Tour victory he led going into the final round of the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco, only to let the title slip from his grasp.

Oosthuizen made an encouraging debut on the European Tour in 2004 after campaigning on the Challenge Tour, comfortably retaining his playing privileges the following year. During the 2005 season he finished well down the Order of Merit which necessitated a trip to the Qualifying Tour. Beginning with a muchimproved year in 2006, when he finished in the top 100, every successive year he has improved his position, and last year after earning more than €800 000, he occupied 31st place on the Order of Merit.

But nothing could have prepared him for this season, during which he has earned more than €1.7 million as well as securing golfing immortality by winning The Open Championship by seven shots. There are those who know this farmer’s son who claim that this important victory was always on the cards, and others who unkindly insist that this stellar performance at the Home of Golf was little more than the result of some fortuitous breaks with his draw, which is nonsense.

The sort of scores he posted have nothing to do with luck, and by producing the display of shot-making that simply outclassed Paul Casey on the final day, he attracted rich praise from many of his fellow professionals, including Tiger Woods.

Most agree that the 28-year-old who hits the ball prodigious distances will not be changed by his good fortune, and he has retained his down-to-earth, friendly attitude, surprising the world’s media when he declared that he would spend some of his winnings on a new tractor to be used on his farm at Gourits River.

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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PL AY ER PRO FI L E

One man who was not surprised when Oosthuizen made his momentous breakthrough was Ernie Els. ‘We could see right from the beginning that he had the makings of a really good golfer and he was achieving great results in junior tournaments. Louis was a great kid and we always knew he had potential to go really far.’

Els is particularly proud of the lessons that Oosthuizen took to heart during his early years at the Foundation. ‘In addition to the obvious lessons of learning to play and to compete, we try to teach our members always to respect the game and the people around them and we encourage them always to give back whenever they can. Louis is a perfect example of that – he has always been incredibly grateful for the support we gave him and is never shy to say so. He’s never forgotten his roots and has already started his own junior academy in Mossel Bay.’ Els adds that from the first time he met young Louis, he was a quiet, polite little guy who let his clubs do most of the talking.

Oosthuizen’s right-hand man on the course is caddie Zack Rasego, who experienced his greatest moment at BiographY St Andrews. ‘It was a proud moment for us,’ he says. Oosthuizen’s mention of former BORN 19 October 1982 TURNED PRO 2002 President Nelson Mandela’s birthday during FAMILY Wife, Nel-Mare; his speech at the prizegiving was a thoughtful one daughter touch. It is amazing to think that his opening SPECIAL INTERESTS Hunting, movies HIGHLIGHTS Became the fourth round at St Andrews, a 65, was the lowest South African to win the Open by the champion in Open history, but his form Championship at St Andrews in this event had not been very encouraging in July, had five Sunshine Tour victories – he had played in three previous Opens, in 2010 MAJORS Masters: MC; US 2004, 2006 and last year, and had never Open: MC; Open Championship: made the cut. In fact his best performance Won; PGA: MC 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Open in any major was 73rd in the 2008 PGA de Andalucia and The Open Championship.

WORLD RANKING 23 Oosthuizen, affectionately known as BEST NGC RECORD On debut ‘Shrek’ to his friends, might have expected Number crunch to go off the boil after his life-changing week (EUROPEAN TOUR) at St Andrews, but the following week he DRIVING DISTANCE challenged strongly in the Nordea 294.6 yards (31st) Scandinavian Masters.

GREENS IN REGULATION There was some concern when an injury 67.8% (73rd) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) kept him from playing in the Grand Slam 1.795 (93rd) event, reserved for the year’s four Major SCORING AVERAGE 70 (2nd) champions, but he will be fit to do battle at WORLD MONEY LIST $2 323 345 (41st) the Gary Player Country Club, in front of Statistics correct through the many fans who will be seeing him live in Tour Championship action for the first time.

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Returning to the country of his birth to compete in the 30th Nedbank Golf Challenge is a thrill for the man who made his first appearance in Sun City at the 2007 event, and who has no shortage of local fans who still claim that he is really a South African. He made his debut at the Gary Player Country Club as a late replacement for Steve Stricker, but Rose proved his unquestionable class by finishing only a shot behind eventual winner Trevor Immelman.

It may have taken longer than expected for Rose to establish himself, but his form this year would suggest that he is going to be threatening the group at the very top of the World Ranking.

In 1985 Rose left his hometown of Johannesburg when his family relocated to Hampshire in England, by which time the five-year-old had already developed a passion for golf.

‘I basically grew up with a golf club in my hand,’ he says.

‘It’s something I’ve always done and always loved.’

After an amateur career that included victory in the 1995 under-16 English Boys Championship, winning the St Andrews Links Championship and selection for Walker Cup duty in 1997, Rose seemed destined for success on the professional Tours. In his last event playing as an amateur, the Open Championship, the fresh-faced 17-year-old pitched in on the 72nd hole at Royal Birkdale for a share of fourth place.

His future in the paid ranks seemed secure, but inexplicably

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he suffered an extended spell BiographY of 21 missed cuts, and his BORN 30 July 1980 loss of form was the cause of TURNED PRO 1998 some despair. Back in South FAMILY Wife, Kate; one son SPECIAL INTERESTS Tennis, Africa, competing on the football, cars Sunshine Tour in 2001, Rose HIGHLIGHTS Four European suddenly seemed to find his Tour titles, won 2007 European Order of Merit, two Ryder confidence and he twice Cup appearances finished second – first to 2010 MAJORS Masters: DNP; US Adam Scott in the Dunhill Open: DNP; Open Championship: MC; PGA: MC Championship, and then to 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Memorial Mark McNulty in the South Tournament and AT&T National on African Open Championship.

PGA Tour WORLD RANKING 28 The following year, he won BEST NGC RECORD Two the Dunhill Championship appearances, second in 2007 and the Nashua Masters in Number crunch South Africa, recorded his (PGA TOUR) first victory in Japan, the DRIVING DISTANCE Chunichi Masters, and 287.8 yards (94th) also broke his duck on the GREENS IN REGULATION 66.31% (110th) European Tour by claiming PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) the British Masters title.

1.760 (39th) But it was not until SCORING AVERAGE 69.84 (8th) WORLD MONEY LIST November 2006 that Rose $3 733 241 (11th) would again taste victory, Statistics correct through the in the Australian Masters, Tour Championship and a period of renewed consistency, confirmed by a seventh-place in the US Masters the following year, saw him begin a rapid climb up the World Ranking. After his brilliant performance to win the season-ending Volvo Masters (which also earned him the Order of Merit title), he finished the year as world number 7 and became the highest ranked European.

This season has been a watershed year for the Englishman, and after several near misses, he won twice on the PGA Tour.

Like his fellow Europeans, Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy, Rose joined the PGA Tour, which means committing to playing at least 15 tournaments a year in the United States.

Judging by his recent success there, he has made the right decision.

JUSTIN ROSE NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

43

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Lee Westwood is one of few golf professionals who has won tournaments on every continent, and he returns to Sun City having played some of the best golf of his illustrious career. The Gary Player Country Club layout, accurately described by Westwood as a ‘ball-strikers course’, is ideally suited to the Englishman’s brand of play, something he has proved here in the past.

The man with the easy-going personality reached the pinnacle of his career in the late 1990s, and between 1998 and 2001 he spent more than 180 weeks in the top 10 of the official World Ranking. His first win on the European Tour came in 1996 when he won the Scandinavian Masters, the same year he won for the first time in Japan.

A year later he won the Volvo Masters in Spain, successfully defended his title in Japan, and added the Malaysian Masters to his rapidly growing list of titles. He also beat Greg Norman in a play-off for the 1997 Australian Open, and partnered Nick Faldo in the Ryder Cup – but his best was yet to come.

In 1998 his season yielded four more victories on the European Tour, and his first title on the PGA Tour, but his most successful season came in 2000 when he won no fewer than seven tournaments worldwide. He also unseated Colin Montgomerie as Europe’s top player by claiming the top spot on the European Order of Merit.

It was at the end of that year that it seemed Westwood might also add the title of Nedbank Golf Challenge champion to his achievements when he finished on 20-under par, but he was beaten in a play-off by Ernie Els. He had played brilliantly all week, and fired a final round 66 to make up the two-shot deficit he had conceded to Els at the start of the day.

His score that year would have comfortably won most of the tournaments played in Sun City, but he was the first to congratulate Els who holed a putt on the second extra hole to win.

Westwood took a significant break from the game after the birth of his son, and spent time rebuilding his swing under the tutelage of coach David Leadbetter. It would take him until 2003 before he could add to his collection of trophies, winning first the BMW International, and a month later the Dunhill Links Championship.

But inexplicably, he seemed to go off the boil, and it would be a long, frustrating period before he could regain the form that had seen him firmly entrenched among the best players in the world. After plummeting down the World Ranking, there were those who doubted that he would ever return to the lofty heights that he had occupied before. But they were in for a surprise.

During the 2007 season, Westwood proved that he had lost none of his ability, and victories in the Andalucía Open and

LEE WESTWOOD NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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PL AY ER PRO FI L E

BiographY BORN 24 April 1973 TURNED PRO 1993 FAMILY Wife, Laurae; one son, one daughter SPECIAL INTERESTS Films, snooker, cars, Nottingham Forest FC HIGHLIGHTS 20 European Tour victories, seven Ryder Cup appearances 2010 MAJORS Masters: 2; US Open: T-16; Open Championship: 2; PGA: DNP 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won St Jude Classic on PGA Tour, played on his fifth winning Ryder Cup team WORLD RANKING 1 BEST NGC RECORD Six appearances, second in 2000

Number crunch (EUROPEAN TOUR)

DRIVING DISTANCE 295 yards (28th) GREENS IN REGULATION 68.9% (55th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.736 (9th) SCORING AVERAGE 70.58 (11th) WORLD MONEY LIST $4 198 824 (6th) Statistics correct through the Tour Championship

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the British Masters saw him climb back into the top 50, finishing the season with five top-10 finishes in the last five events. His momentum continued the following year; he shared two runners-up finishes and moving back into the top 20 of the World Rankings. Several excellent performances followed, and last season he made an emphatic statement by winning first the Portuguese Open and then outclassing the field at the Dubai World Championship, winning by six strokes.

After Europe’s thrilling win in the Ryder Cup this year, the US PGA Tour made overtures to Westwood for him to become a member, and he politely turned them down. Hoping to augment the elite group of Europeans who have taken up the offer (including Luke Donald, Paul Casey, Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose), the Americans must have been disappointed, but Westwood had his reasons.

‘The FedEx Cup falls in the middle of the kids’ summer holidays, and I like going on holiday with them for a couple of weeks,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to be dictated to by having to go to America to play the FedEx Cup when it doesn’t mean much

46

NE D BAN K G O L F C HA L L ENGE 2 0 1 0

to me.’ He certainly didn’t intend to offend the Americans – he was simply being refreshingly candid.

Westwood could have moved into the number one on the World Rankings by simply withdrawing from the Dunhill Links Championship this year. The way it worked out, unless Westwood had finished in the top two in the Dunhill, the extra event would have adversely influenced his average points, but to get to the top spot by default is not his way.

‘If I didn’t play the next two weeks,’ he said at the Dunhill, ‘I would go to number one. But that’s not me.’ He explained that his way was to reach the top by playing the way he has in the past two years, ‘not by fiddling around with the rankings system, the mathematics of it all’.

If there is one mystery regarding the Westwood CV, it surrounds the fact that he has not yet managed to capture a Major title, but it is surely only a matter of time. In 2008 he finished third in the US Open, and a year later he shared third place in both The Open and PGA Championships.

This year Westwood finished second in the US Masters, and was also runner-up in The Open Championship.

Westwood, ever gracious when asked about that elusive Major, has suggested that had he made the decision, like many of his professional colleagues, to move to America with his family, he might well have collected a Major by now. But instead, he chooses to live near where he grew up in Nottinghamshire, and still believes that the Major will come.

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three EXTRA SPECIAL decades Outside of the four tournaments that comprise golf’s coveted four Major championships, the Masters, the US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA, it is difficult to find a tournament anywhere in the world of golf that has been staged continuously for 30 years, let alone one that has taken place at the same venue over that time period

Starting as the Million Dollar Challenge and developing into the Nedbank Golf Challenge as we know it today, this event has provided South African golf fans with three decades of extra special moments.

THE EIGHTIES

One has to laud the combined vision of Sol Kerzner and Gary Player to build this golf course in the first place and then to plant the seeds of what we witness at Sun City every year. The inaugural Million Dollar Challenge, contested in 1981, had a celebrity pro-am feel to it, with almost as much focus on the big names of the international entertainment world as on the five professional golfers who made up the field, one of them Gary Player himself.

However, if ever a tournament needed a shot in the arm to put it firmly on the map, this one got it, with Johnny Miller outlasting Seve Ballesteros in a nine-hole sudden death playoff to take a staggering (for the time, anyway) $500 000 of a record $1-million purse.

In 1982, the field doubled, buoyed by the interest in and success of year one. Again a play-off was required to determine a winner, with Raymond Floyd defeating fellow American Craig Stadler for the title, with another three Americans in positions three to five.

The ‘Million Dollar’ would get its first European winner in 1983, the Spanish wizard Severiano Ballesteros going on to defend his title a year later in 1984. Following the play-off drama of the first two tournaments, one of which had been won at Ballesteros’ expense, the multi-Major winner obliterated the fields for both of his victories, winning by five shots over three players in 83 and by six in 84. On both occasions, Nick Faldo had at least a tie for second, sparking a lengthy association with the event that would produce both controversy and glory.

Ballesteros made his final appearance at Sun City in defence of his title in 1985, and finished in fourth place, four strokes adrift of the second European winner, Germany’s Bernhard Langer, who would also establish a long and lucrative relationship with this event.

Langer and Lanny Wadkins were the big names in 1986, but they could only watch in awe as Zimbabwean Mark McNulty won by seven over Wadkins and eight over Langer.

After an opening 74, which left him second last, McNulty broke par in the remaining three rounds, including a best of the day 68 in the final round, making him the Million Dollar Challenge’s first Southern African victor in the process.

With a greater effort to attract the world’s leading players, Sun International offered the first $1-million winner’s cheque in golf in 1987, and Welshman Ian Woosnam took advantage of a final round 68 – the only player to break 70 – to claim golf’s richest payout. One of the most memorable shots in the tournament’s 29-year history came at the par-4 17th on Sunday as Woosnam holed his second shot with an 8-iron for an eagle to distance himself from Nick Faldo and win the only one of the 29 events to date in which the winner took all and the remainder of the field went home empty-handed.

In 1988, the winner once again received the game’s biggest cheque of the time, $1 million, but the other players were once again in the money. Although he had made his debut at the event a year earlier, the media was strongly critical of the invitation to the ‘colourful’ personality of Fulton Allem over John Bland, who had been the outstanding South African player on tour that year. Allem let his form do the talking, getting his nose in front with a brilliant third round 66 and closing the Million Dollar deal with a 69 on Sunday for a one-shot win.

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Gary Player took part in the inaugural Million Dollar Challenge in 1981

E x t r a s pec i a l m o me n t s

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2009

00

Clockwise from top: David Frost took the title three times: in 1989, 1990 and 1992; Nick Price beat Tiger Woods in play-off in 1998; Colin Montgomerie was victorious in 1996

THE NINETIES

Then followed an extraordinary four years for South Africa’s David Frost, in which he won three titles and $3 million in 1989, 1990 and 1992, sandwiched with a last place in 1991 when he finished 28 shots behind Langer, who secured an incredibly popular second victory, having emphatically overcome the scourge of the putting yips.

The second of Frost’s three titles was his most thrilling, going head-to-head in the final round with Jose Maria Olazábal in 1990. In brutal conditions, which featured thicker kikuyu rough than before, Frost’s four consecutive rounds of 71 (284) remains the highest ever winning total at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

00

Tied for the lead playing the 72nd hole, Olazábal fired his approach to within 10 feet of the hole, to which Frost responded by hitting his second shot two feet closer. The Spaniard missed and Frost converted to become the first South African to win consecutive Nedbank Golf Challenge titles.

The year of his third victory, 1992, was not without considerable controversy, with both Nick Faldo and Nick Price being disqualified for rules infractions, something which, if the positives were sought, proved that the event was a serious golf tournament and not a kind of exhibition in which rules violations could be casually overlooked.

But the ‘Two Nicks’ would bounce back with aplomb, Price firing the lowest round on each day of the 1993 event on his way to what was at the time a record 72-hole total and record victory margin of eight shots. Starting the final round with a ten-shot lead over McNulty, Price holed his approach at the first hole for an eagle two after missing the fairway off the tee.

The following year, he would win two Majors and claim the number-one spot on the world rankings.

And in 1994 it would be Faldo’s turn to restore his Sun City pride, with a three-shot win over Price. The Englishman was seven ahead by the halfway mark after rounds of 66 and 64 and never looked like relinquishing his advantage.

With the event having been dominated by European and Southern African winners since 1983, the identity of the 1995 winner was something of a surprise. Although the ball travels further at altitude, the Gary Player Country Club has always been thought of as a course where length is of huge importance.

Nobody told the diminutive Corey Pavin that was the case, as he decimated the field on the final day with a 6-under par 66 to win by five shots over Price. There was one shot in particular that gave Pavin a mental boost in his push for victory; with Price still very much in touch at the par-5 ninth, Pavin stood in the fairway some 220 metres from the green and hit a drawing 3-wood that landed softly on the putting surface to set up a crucial birdie; high risk, high reward and extra special execution.

This event has always been a stage on which the local players get a rare boost against international competition from the partisan galleries, making a foreign win that much more special for the player concerned. That was certainly the case for Colin Montgomerie in 1996. Local hero Ernie Els came his closest yet to a Sun City victory, chasing Monty down with a closing 66 to set up a play-off, won by the Scot on the 18th hole.

There was another agonising second place for the ‘Big Easy’ in 1997, when his final round of 67 was one too many to catch Price on his way to his second title. The Zimbabwean’s defence a year later would provide one of the most dramatic finishes in the tournament’s history.

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64-66 in what he describes as the four best consecutive rounds he has ever played. Colin Montgomerie was a distant second on 268, which would have been good enough to win 18 of the previous 19 Nedbank Golf Challenge tournaments.

THE ‘NOUGHTIES’

Above: Ernie Els, who has taken the trophy three times, makes his 17th appearance at the Nedbank Golf Challenge this year

Record crowds descended on Sun City in 1998 and they were in for a treat as Tiger Woods made his first, and only, Nedbank Golf Challenge appearance. Since the World Golf Rankings began in 1985 every World No 1 has played in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Woods began slowly and was in last place after nine holes, but he played the next 63 holes in 17-under par to tie Price, which included a birdie at the 17th followed by a fist-pumping chip in for birdie at the 18th, delivering one of the best ever finishes in front of a massive crowd. But two-time Nedbank Golf Challenge champion Price had six consecutive birdies from the ninth to the 14th and eventually outlasted Woods after five extra holes, becoming the first player to beat the American in a play-off.

Ernie Els had to wait until his eighth appearance in 1999 to lift the crystal trophy but he did it with one of the most commanding performances of his career. Els broke Nick Price’s 1993 tournament record by one shot, firing rounds of 67-66-

In the first year of the new millennium, 2000, Els beat Lee Westwood at the second extra hole of their sudden death play-off to win the $2 million first prize, which remains the largest first prize to have been won in the history of tournament golf, and looked set to impose an impenetrable hold on the crystal trophy.

But he didn’t bargain for the fighting spirit of Sergio Garcia in 2001. Garcia teed off for the final round, you could get odds of 40 to 1 on him winning. Six shots behind Els, who had shot 67, 66, 66 to open and whose closest challenger was veteran Bernhard Langer, it looked like a fairly leisurely stroll for the Big Easy on Sunday.

But Garcia went for absolutely everything, eventually signing for a 63 that tied Els at a remarkable 20-under par. Back they went to the par-3 16th for sudden death and, with Els surveying a 20-foot putt for birdie, Garcia chipped in coming downhill from over the green for a birdie that crushed local hopes. It was the most dramatic come-from-behind victory in the tournament’s history.

A year later in 2002, it was Els who would be the fast finisher, posting a final round of 9-under par 63 to leave second placed Montgomerie a distant eight shots behind and win the last of the $2 million first-places cheques.

The tournament expanded its field in 2003 to include a number of the visiting American Presidents Cup team,

LEFT: Jim Furyk was set to defend his title in 2007, but at the last minute withdrew due to injury.

ABOVE: Sergio Garcia is one of several two-time winners

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TOP: Following his Nedbank Golf Challenge win in 2007, Trevor Immelman went on to win the Masters in 2008 ABOVE: 2009 winner Robert Allenby with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe

18 players taking to the fairways, and it was once again Garcia who broke local fans’ hearts in a sudden death play-off.

The difference from 2001 was that Garcia led by a shot going into the final round and played alongside Retief Goosen, who signed for a 69 to the Spaniard’s 70. The locals could hardly bear to watch as Garcia rolled in his putt for a birdie two at the 16th, his four shots in two sudden death play-offs at that hole having earned him a total of $3.2 million!

Goosen’s exquisite ball-striking would earn him victory in 2004, however, when only three players broke par over 72 holes. His closing 69 was the only sub-70 score on the final day and earned him a six-shot cushion over Els and Australian Stuart Appelby. There would be no such margin a year later.

In a limited field event such as this, it is unusual for half the field to be in contention come the final few holes on Sunday.

But that all changed in 2005, with a logjam at the top of the leaderboard and an unprecedented four man play-off, contested

by Jim Furyk, Darren Clarke, Retief Goosen and Adam Scott.

Incredibly, Luke Donald missed out on the play-off by one shot and Tim Clark by two, the latter having finished with a 75! Northern Irishman Clarke carried the most momentum into the play-off, having closed with a 69, but it was the popular Furyk who seized the moment to claim his first victory in six attempts at Sun City, with an unbelievable chip into the hole for birdie from behind the green at the 18th in the play-off.

Furyk’s accurate tee to green play and consistent putting brought him a two-shot win in defence of his title in 2006, despite finishing with a final round of 74. This was also the first year in which the winner of the previous Sunshine Tour’s order of merit was given an invite, with Charl Schwartzel finishing a creditable fifth place.

Coming into the event as a late replacement for Sergio Garcia in 2007, Trevor Immelman took full advantage to become the seventh Southern African winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. (Southern Africans have now claimed 13 of the 29 titles.) He jumped out in front after playing the first nine holes in 30 strokes with four birdies and an eagle at the ninth.

It was the first time in Immelman’s career that he had led a tournament from start to finish, but it wasn’t without drama.

Tied with Justin Rose for the lead playing the final hole, Immelman fluffed a chip behind the 18th green but then got up and down for a bogey five, which was good enough for the $1.2-million payout after Rose collapsed with a double bogey.

The 2008 tournament would produce the first Swedish winner, Henrik Stenson prevailing – after finishing second and fourth in his first two attempts – and setting a record nine shot victory margin in the process and that with second-placed Kenny Perry finishing with a 65.

The Swede made an excellent fist of his title defence in 2009, catching Australian Robert Allenby from behind on Sunday, only for the Aussie to hold his nerve in a sudden death play-off to become the first golfer from ‘Down Under’ to capture the title.

AND SO TO 2010 …

In such a massive year for South African sport, it is fitting that this event should celebrate its 30th birthday in 2010, having provided so much drama, so many birdies, and so much wonderful entertainment over the years. And to the two men who had the vision to build the course and get Africa’s Major on its way, perhaps we should say, ‘Give those men a Bell’s!’

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older statesmen This year there are a few extras on offer, including watching some of the champions of yesteryear To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, there was an opportunity to introduce some innovations and attractions for the tens of thousands of spectators and guests who will flock to Sun City.

Apart from the daily concerts featuring some of the hottest talent in South African music, and the long-driving competition, it is inside the ropes that the fans will be more entertained than ever, with the announcement of a separate eight-man tournament for Champions Tour professionals.

Adding spice to the format is that four of the eight are from Southern Africa and the other quartet from the USA, with seven of the eight having competed for the Nedbank Golf Challenge trophy before joining the Champions Tour ranks.

All four Southern Africans – Nick Price, Mark McNulty (who has taken up Irish citizenship), David Frost and Fulton Allem – have all held the famous crystal golf ball trophy aloft here, while the Americans have a combined four NGC appearances.

Jay Haas and Fred Funk both played here in 2003 as part of the extended field following the epic Presidents Cup contest in George.

On the pages that follow, we invite you to reacquaint yourselves with some of the great names in golf who may be just a fraction shorter off the tee, a little more relaxed in demeanour but no less competitive than they ever were when a tournament gets underway.

fulton allem

tommy armour III

David Frost

Fred funk

jay haas

mark mcnulty

NICK PRICE

JEFF SLUMAN

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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The local media made a case for there being more BORN 15 September 1957 deserving Sunshine Tour PLACE Kroonstad players who should have TURNED PRO 1976 FAMILY Wife, Jennifer; four children been given the highlySPECIAL INTERESTS Breeding treasured invitation, but in horses, fishing, hunting fairness to Allem, he had CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 14 worldwide victories, including three on finished as runner-up in the the PGA Tour, 1988 NGC champion World Series that year, which 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Best finish of proved that he could more T-21 at Jeld-Wen Tradition on the Champions Tour than hold his own among the best players in the world.

Number crunch At that time the event that (champions TOUR) would become the Nedbank DRIVING DISTANCE Golf Challenge was strictly 262.5 yards (74th) DRIVING ACCURACY an invitational, and 76.03% (17th) qualification was not based GREENS IN REGULATION on World Rankings or Order 62.48% (75th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) of Merit standings. Despite 1.8 (75th) the veiled suggestions of SCORING AVERAGE 73.11 (75th) favouritism, Allem made an MONEY LIST $127 216 (77th) As at 1 November 2010 excellent start on the course he knew well, and he led the eight-man field after rounds of 66 and 69. It seemed that he might confound his critics and win a million dollars – that year the tournament was played on a winner-take-all basis.

Following rounds of 74 he fell off the pace, and Ian Woosnam pocketed the record first prize.

Allem was again invited to compete in Sun City the following year, and he was crowned champion, silencing those who had canvassed for John Bland to rather represent the local Tour in the elite field. Allem had shown his class and nerve by holing clutch putts over the final nine holes to beat the experienced Don Pooley by a shot, and after this, no-one could query his credentials.

The son of a maize farmer, who was the biggest producer of grain in the southern hemisphere, Allem won his first PGA Tour event in 1991, the event now known as the Houston Open.

Two years after this he enjoyed his most successful year, winning both the Colonial and the NEC World Series.

Unfortunately he could not take full advantage of the 10-year Tour exemption earned at the NEC event, due to a series of medical problems, including a herniated disc and other back and heart problems.

Three runner’s-up places on the Champions Tour, where he made his debut in 2007 and has won more than $1.2 million, suggest that this crowd-pleaser could be returning to his best.

BiographY

Only recurring health problems have prevented Fulton Allem from winning more often, because at his best he has proven that his blend of power, accuracy and touch makes him the complete golfer. Now, he returns to the course that would seem ideally suited to his game.

Unlike many golfers who have enjoyed successful careers on the professional Tours, Allem lacked a noteworthy amateur CV despite taking up the game at the age of seven. But he certainly never lacked ability, and after turning pro his powerful and accurate ball-striking suggested that he would soon become a champion. Encouraged by his father and close family friend Gary Player, ‘Fulti’ may have taken almost a decade before he won his first event on the Sunshine Tour, but once having tasted victory he won regularly. Between 1986 and 1991, the flamboyant man from the Free State racked up an impressive 11 titles in South Africa.

He began his collection of trophies with a flourish, with victories in the Minolta Matchplay Championship, the Phalaborwa Classic (a tournament he would win three times in a row) and the PGA Championship – all in a single season.

The following year he added a second PGA title to his rapidly growing list of achievements, and in 1987 he was somewhat controversially included in the field for what was then called the Million Dollar Challenge.

Fulton allem 58

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With some impressive scoring records to his name and arriving in Sun City after many fine performances on the Champions Tour this year, Tommy Armour III will be ready to get his own back on the course that wasn’t too kind to him 20 years ago.

It was Tommy Armour III’s grandfather who won three Major titles, and although he has failed to emulate the famous man who was nicknamed the ‘Silver Scot’ (and won the US Open, the PGA Championship and the British Open), he has certainly made his mark in professional golf.

The popular Armour III is known and highly respected for his ball-striking skills, but he has been troubled by an inconsistent putter for much of his professional career, which began in 1981. After attending the University of New Mexico, he made a career choice which seemed to suit his pedigree, and in 1983 he collected his first trophy after winning the Mexico Open.

He had to wait a while for success on the PGA Tour, his first victory coming in the 1990 Phoenix Open. Armour was invited to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the end of that year, but he failed to come to grips with the Gary Player Country Club’s slick putting surfaces, and he finished well down the leader board, 16 shots behind the winner David Frost.

Tall and athletic, Armour’s style of play has always been aggressive and thrilling to watch, but he has admitted to wasting far too many shots on the greens. When he does putt well, he can shoot unbelievably low scores, as he did in the 2003 Texas Open. On that occasion he opened up with rounds of 64, 62 and 63, which remains a record on the PGA Tour for scoring below par over 54 holes, and after he completed his final round in 65 shots, he had won his second Tour title. Unsurprisingly, he had distanced himself from the field, and was seven strokes clear of Bob Tway and Loren Roberts.

Although it might have been expected that he had solved his putting problems and would go on to win more often on the PGA Tour, it was not to be. He did collect two titles on the Nike Tour and, clearly aiming to campaign on the Champions Tour, he persevered and kept himself fit, and retained his exempt status on the PGA Tour.

In 2008 he enjoyed his most lucrative season, albeit without a win. This season included a tie for second place in the Traveller’s Championship and a week later he finished third at the AT&T National, finishing the season with earnings of more than $1.5 million.

He showed that he meant business on the Champions Tour by finishing second to Fred Couples in his very first outing. This excellent performance included a final round 61, matching the Champions Tour record, and since then he has been a regular

contender. This season the BiographY long-hitter has enjoyed a BORN 8 October 1959 great run of form that has PLACE Denver, Colorado resulted in his finishing TURNED PRO 1981 FAMILY One son second in three tournaments, SPECIAL INTERESTS Music, sports and coming close to winning CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Two PGA on numerous occasions.

Tour victories, had 300 career starts earning over $9 million in With his earnings topping prize money the $1 million mark, Tommy 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Three secondArmour III is definitely ready place finishes, seven other top 10s on Champions Tour (debut season) to take revenge on the course where he shot 77 the last Number crunch time he played it, and he will (champions TOUR) draw plenty of appreciative DRIVING DISTANCE applause from the crowds at 284.3 yards (16th) DRIVING ACCURACY 70.82% (42nd) Sun City with his prodigious GREENS IN REGULATION length off the tee. He once 72.22% (10th) famously said that he never PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.736 (9th) played golf for money – it SCORING AVERAGE 70.27 (11th) was just something he loved MONEY LIST $1 084 220 (10th) to do, and that he valued the As at 1 November 2010 great friendships he has developed during his time on Tour. He is likely to make a few more friends and admirers when he returns to the Gary Player Country Club.

TOMMY aRMOUR III NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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But it was on the PGA Tour where he belonged BORN 11 September 1959 among the best players PLACE Cape Town in the world. When he TURNED PRO 1981 FAMILY Two sons returned home to compete SPECIAL INTERESTS Making wine, on the Sunshine Tour, he all sports produced several brilliant CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 22 career victories, including 10 on PGA Tour, performances that conthree-time NGC champion, played firmed his status as the most at 1994 & 1996 Presidents Cup successful SA professional 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won 3M Championship in his first full season since Gary Player. on Champions Tour, had 7 other In 1986 he won the South top-10s African Open Championship Number crunch and the SA Masters, and a (champions TOUR) year later he successfully DRIVING DISTANCE 281.3 yards defended his Masters title.

(26th) One of his most impressive DRIVING ACCURACY 64.18% (75th) GREENS IN REGULATION displays was in the 1994 67.02% (47th) PGA Championship at PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) The Wanderers, when he 1.738 (12th) SCORING AVERAGE 70.53 (23rd) outpaced Nick Price in a MONEY LIST $992 492 (12th) thrilling duel to complete As at 1 November 2010 the unofficial ‘Triple Crown’ of the South African Tour.

Frost won a second SA Open at Stellenbosch in 1999, a club where he had honed his skills as a junior member.

Frost was an integral part of the South African team that competed in the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews, where he represented his country six times, twice helping his team to victory (1998 and 1999).

Known for his precise ball-striking and an uncanny ability to master the trickiest of greens, Frost settled in Dallas, Texas and began to win tournaments on the PGA with impressive regularity. In fact, he has won more times in America than the likes of Seve Ballesteros and former world number one Nick Faldo, which puts the measure of his success into perspective.

Frost’s greatest compliment came from none other than the great Ben Hogan, who once remarked that he could find no fault with the South African’s swing – high praise indeed from the man credited with developing the modern golf technique.

Frost, who has a wine farm world-famous for its quality produce, remained active and competitive until his 50th birthday, and after qualifying for the Champions Tour in September last year, he played in five tournaments, finishing in the top 10 three times. This year he won his maiden senior tournament, the 3M Championship, and finished 12th on the money list with earnings of more than $980 000.

BiographY

Before his 50th birthday in 2009, David Frost sharpened up his game, and several good performances on the regular Tour bode well for his debut on the Champions Tour. Once considered to be one of the best putters in the game, Frost has lost none of his ability on the greens and, combined with his precise shot-making, he will always be a threat at the Gary Player Country Club.

This is a rather special place for Frost; it was here that he won his very first professional tournament in 1983 – the Gordon’s Gin Classic. Frost’s clinical display, while playing with Tony Johnstone and Nick Price in the final round, kickstarted a career that includes 10 wins on the PGA Tour and a total of 20 professional victories worldwide. It was also here that he won a trio of Nedbank Golf Challenge trophies, his first in 1989, a title which he successfully defended a year later. He completed his hat trick in 1992, his 12-under par total beating the strong field by four shots.

Born in Cape Town and educated at Paarl Boys’ High, Frost turned professional in 1981 after an amateur career that earned him international colours. He qualified to play on the European Tour, where he campaigned from 1982 until 1984, collecting his first trophy outside of South Africa at the Cannes Open.

DAVID FROST 62

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When Fred Funk played in the Nedbank Golf Challenge when the field had been extended to 18 players in 2003, he produced three consistent rounds of 71 before a final round of level par which saw him finish mid-table – a creditable debut.

But considering his form since then, he could well be involved at the business end of the Nedbank Seniors Challenge. He is one of few players who has continued to be competitive on the PGA Tour beyond his 50th birthday, and on a layout that demands accuracy, he should start as one of the favourites.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, Funk turned professional in 1981 but worked as a golf coach at his Alma Mater until 1988, and only became a member of the PGA Tour in 1989. His first win came in the Houston Open in 1992 and two months later he recorded his second victory in the Ideon Classic at Pleasant Valley.

He would have to wait three years before lifting his third title at the Buick Challenge, and a year later he won the BC Open. In 1998 another victory came in the Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic but thereafter the popular man from Maryland, who has a degree in law enforcement, suffered a winless drought that lasted until October 2004. He recorded his sixth Tour victory in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic by beating Ryan Palmer by a shot.

It was in 2005 that Funk recorded the most important victory of his career in The Players Championship. Cheered on by his own group of fanatical supporters named ‘Funk’s Punks’, he made a fast start with a flawless round of 66, and after playing three rounds of steady, if unspectacular golf, he emerged victorious over Luke Donald, Tom Lehman and Scott Verplank.

Three years ago Funk recorded his eighth victory when he won The Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico, by which time he had turned 50 and was eligible to play on the Champions Tour. His victory in Mexico meant that he had become only the second senior to win on the PGA Tour in over thirty years.

He had also retained his position in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Funk may have been regarded as one of the shortest drivers on the PGA Tour, but he has consistently proven to be one of the most accurate. Many of his professional colleagues consider him to be one of the straightest drivers on tour over the last two decades, and he has headed up the driving accuracy statistics no less than seven times.

Much of Funk’s popularity has to do with his outgoing personality and his keen sense of humour. Always one to enjoy a bit of light-hearted fun on the golf course, during a Skins Game in 2005 after losing a friendly bet, he donned a pink skirt that Annika Sorenstam pulled out of her golf bag after she out-drove Funk on one of the holes.

FRED FUNK 64

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

In 2008 Funk won his first BiographY Senior Major, The Jeld-Wen BORN 14 June 1956 Tradition, an event he won PLACE Takoma Park, Maryland TURNED PRO 1981 again earlier this year. Last FAMILY Wife, Sharon; three year, in addition to becoming children the oldest qualifier for the US SPECIAL INTERESTS Water- and snow-skiing Open at Bethpage Black at CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Eight PGA the age of 53, he also Tour victories (including 2005 Players collected the second Major Championship), Five Champions Tour wins (including two Majors) Championship on the 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Jeld-Wen Champions Tour at the US Tradition (Major), seven other top Senior Open at Crooked 10s on Champions Tour Stick in Indiana. Funk was in Number crunch scintillating form and after a (champions TOUR) clinical performance won by DRIVING DISTANCE 268.4 (64th) a margin of six shots.

DRIVING ACCURACY 77.85% (8th) GREENS IN REGULATION Now a resident of Ponte 70.72% (19th) Vedra Beach, Florida, Funk PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) still plays the occasional PGA 1.786 (35th) SCORING AVERAGE 70.43 (17th) Tour event but devotes most MONEY LIST $1 306 009 (6th) of his time to the Champions As at 1 November 2010 Tour, where he has collected six trophies. He banked more than $1.2 million in 2010, and occupies sixth place on the Champions Tour Order of Merit.

Jay Haas has dominated the Champions Tour and it’s little wonder – he was still considered to be one of the best golfers in the world at the age of 50, and proved it by successfully campaigning on the PGA Tour well beyond this milestone.

Jay Haas attended Wake Forest University, an institution famed for producing excellent golf teams that have in the past included the likes of Arnold Palmer and Curtis Strange. When Haas was a member of the NCAA Championship team of the mid-1970s with Strange, this was considered by many to be the greatest College team of all time. After winning the Individual Championship in 1975, he turned professional a year later.

He would go on to win 28 titles, 14 of these on the Champions Tour where he wasted no time in stamping his authority. Haas has an amazing record of having made the cut 592 times on the PGA Tour, more than any other player.

He has also finished in the top 10 of Major Championships 16 times, his highest position being a tie for third place in both the US Masters and PGA Championships. He may have missed out on collecting a major trophy on the regular Tour, but he has made up for this since joining the senior ranks.

As soon as he became eligible to play on the Champions Tour in 2004, he narrowly missed out when he finished second to Hale Irwin by a single shot in the Senior PGA Championship – his very first appearance. He still occupied a position in the top 20 in the Official World Golf Rankings after his 50th birthday, and remained highly competitive. His 2005 season yielded two victories on the Champions Tour while he continued to play regularly on the PGA Tour.

The following year he beat Brad Bryant at the Senior PGA Championship – his first Senior Major title having again won twice earlier in the season. These and other noteworthy performances saw him finish the season on top of the Champions Tours money list. He was an obvious choice to be named as Champions Tour Player of the Year.

After winning The Greater Hickory Classic last season, Haas recorded his third Senior Major and 14th Champions Tour title at the Senior Players Championship – coming from five shots off the pace. His final round of 64 was enough to secure a one-shot victory over 54-hole leader Tom Watson.

Haas has an impressive golfing family tree. He is a nephew of 1968 US Masters Champion Bob Goalby and several of his relatives are well known in golfing circles; his brother Jerry played on the PGA Tour and his second son, Bill, joined the PGA Tour in 2006. In 2005 Haas received the Payne Stewart Award, and two months later he also received the Murray Award for his co-operation with the media. The mild-mannered Haas who was born in St Louis, Missouri and grew up in Illinois,

was also the recipient of the BiographY 2006 Bob Jones Award, the BORN 2 December 1953 highest honour given by the PLACE St Louis, Missouri United States Golf Association TURNED PRO 1976 FAMILY Wife, Janice; four children in recognition of distinguished SPECIAL INTERESTS All sports sportsmanship in golf.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Nine PGA Haas first made an Tour victories, 14 Champions Tour wins (including three majors), appearance in the Nedbank played on three Ryder Cup teams Golf Challenge in 2003 and 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Seven top 10s after a steady performance on Champions Tour during which he managed Number crunch to shoot par or better in every (champions TOUR) round, he finished in the DRIVING DISTANCE 274.2 yards middle of the pack in what (47th) DRIVING ACCURACY 69.55% (54th) was an extended 18-man GREENS IN REGULATION field. The following year he 68.32% (39th) finished tied for sixth with PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.730 (3rd) Lee Westwood. Haas first SCORING AVERAGE 70.46 (18th) represented his country as an MONEY LIST $709 033 (24th) amateur in the 1975 Walker As at 1 November 2010 Cup and as a professional in the victorious Ryder Cup Team in 1983. Since then he has played in two more Ryder Cups (1995 and 2004) as well as been a member of the 1994 and 2003 Presidents Cup Teams.

JAY HAAS NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

67

his efforts on the US PGA Tour, McNulty divided his BORN 25 October 1953 time between campaigning PLACE Bindura, Zimbabwe TURNED PRO 1977 on the European Tour and FAMILY Wife, Alison; two children, in South Africa. He collected two step-children a total of 16 titles on the SPECIAL INTERESTS Scuba diving, piano, fine arts European Tour, including CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 55 the 1996 Volvo Masters, tournament victories worldwide, that Tour’s equivalent of The seven Champions Tour victories, 1986 NGC champion Players Championship. He 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Underwent also finished in the top 10 knee-replacement surgery in May, of the European Tour’s Order only played four events this year of Merit six times, including Number crunch two second places in 1987 (champions TOUR) and 1990.

DRIVING DISTANCE 260.4 yards He has admitted that DRIVING ACCURACY 80.95% the defining moment in his GREENS IN REGULATION 71.30% PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.799 career came when he won SCORING AVERAGE 70.5 the Nedbank Golf Challenge (McNulty did not play enough in 1986. He received an rounds to be ranked in 2010) As at 1 November 2010 invitation after completing his most successful season – he had won seven official tournaments, and proved that on this golf course, which he names among his favourites, he could beat a world-class line-up.

One of many professionals who remained competitive on the regular Tour up to and beyond their 50th birthdays (he won the Nashua Nedtel Cellular Masters and the South African Open as recently as 2001, as well as the Vodacom Players Championship in 2002), there was no doubt that he would become a force on the Champions Tour. He surpassed all expectations during his first full season, winning three times.

His first triumph was in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, when he beat Larry Nelson into second place, and he simply outplayed the field in the SBC Championship, winning by eight strokes. He completed his ‘Rookie’ hat trick by beating Tom Kite by a shot to claim the Charles Schwab Championship. The following season he won twice, and earlier this year he beat Fred Funk and Nick Price in a play-off to win the Principal Charity Classic, his seventh title on the Champions Tour.

In 1993 McNulty played with his friend Nick Price in the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the year Price set a tournament record of 24-under par. McNulty’s round of 67 could make no impression on Price’s lead; he lost ground and finished second, a distant 12 shots behind Price. This event presents a good opportunity for him to take his revenge.

BiographY

None of Mark McNulty’s many fans were surprised when he joined the Champions Tour and immediately made his presence felt. He was expected to become a consistent winner on the over-50s circuit and he hasn’t disappointed.

The former Zimbabwean who dominated the Sunshine Tour during the 1980s and 1990s will definitely start as one of the favourites when he competes in the Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge, and particularly when his famous goose-neck putter warms up, he can be extremely difficult to beat.

McNulty, who acquired Irish citizenship when he turned 50, has an amazing record: he has won 55 professional tournaments, and topped the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit no less than nine times. The former Zimbabwean and South African Amateur champion is highly respected by his peers – he is deceptively long for a slightly-built player, his course management is faultless, and his distance control is as good as it gets. It has often been said that a young player could not pick a better role model than the man called ‘Sparkles’, and besides his calm temperament and excellent technique, he is one of golf’s true gentleman.

In 1977 McNulty turned professional, the same time as his good friend and compatriot Nick Price. There was little to choose between these two stars early in their careers – they may have had very different styles of play, but both enjoyed success at home and on the world stage. While Price focused

MARK McNULTY 68

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SENIOR PROFILE

Tour titles. He was awarded lifetime membership of the BORN 28 January 1957 PGA Tour – a rare distinction.

PLACE Durban Price was selected for the TURNED PRO 1977 FAMILY Wife, Sue; three children prestigious Payne Stewart SPECIAL INTERESTS Water skiing, Award in 2001, for tennis, fishing, flying sportsmanship and for CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Three-time major champion, won 47 events epitomising every virtue worldwide, including 18 PGA most highly respected by Tour victories and World No 1 in those in his profession.

1994-1995 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Won Principal While attending Prince Charity Classic and Legends Edward School in Harare, of Golf, 11 other top 10s on he captained the golf team Champions Tour and won the World Junior Number crunch Championship. He was (champions TOUR) also a natural selection to DRIVING DISTANCE represent his country in the 286.1 yards (11th) DRIVING ACCURACY Eisenhower Trophy. After 77.74% (9th) turning professional in GREENS IN REGULATION 1977, he had to wait two 73.67% (3rd) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) years before he won his 1.739 (13th) first tournament, the Asseng SCORING AVERAGE 69.10 (2nd) Challenge, but he won the MONEY LIST $1 398 482 (5th) As at 1 November 2010 Lancôme Trophy, his first European Tour event a year later, and slowly established himself as a consistent winner.

A major breakthrough came for Price when he won the 1983 World Series, but although he continued to win regularly in other parts of the world, he would have to wait until 1991 before he again triumphed in the US. In 1992 he won his first Major, the PGA Championship, and this was the beginning of a purple patch. In 1993 he shattered the scoring record in the Nedbank Golf Challenge winning by 12 shots, after winning four tournaments on the PGA Tour earlier in the season, including The Players Championship. His adjusted scoring average was the lowest on Tour, earning him the Vardon Trophy, and he topped the money list with record earnings.

The following year he won consecutive Majors, The Open Championship and a second PGA, as well as four other events and again he had set a new record for earnings on the Tour. He was clearly the best player in the world, and spent 43 weeks in the number one position on the Official World Ranking.

His first Champions Tour victory came in last season’s Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, and he has won twice this year, in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and the Principal Classic.

BiographY

Nick Price will be fancied to triumph in the Nedbank Senior Golf Challenge. He returns to a venue where he has enjoyed so much success, and if he reproduces the sort of form that has seen him dominate at the Gary Player Country Club, he will be very difficult to beat.

Three-time Major champion and former world number one, Price is constantly showered with compliments and he has won several awards for his contribution to the game. He may be known as ‘Mr Nice Guy’, but as this field of champions knows, on the golf course he is fiercely competitive. Particularly on this layout which he knows and loves, he can be devastating, and his record in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and the Dimension Data Pro-Ams played on this layout is unequalled.

Recently, Price was named as the recipient of the Golf Course Superintendants of America Association’s Old Tom Morris Award, which he will receive next year. This prestigious award, which has been presented in the past to the likes of Arnold Palmer and ex-US president Gerald Ford, recognises an individual who has, through a lifetime’s continuing commitment to golf, helped mould the welfare of the game.

Price, who was born in Durban (and grew up in Zimbabwe), has 48 professional victories to his name, including 18 PGA

NICK PRICE NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

71

SENIOR PROFILE

During a career on the PGA Tour that has spanned almost 30 years, Jeff Sluman has earned more than $18 million and established himself as one of the most consistent players in the game. After qualifying for the Champions Tour in 2007, it was expected that he would successfully compete among the best over-50s in the world, and he hasn’t disappointed.

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Sluman was introduced to golf at the age of four. Growing up, he never considered turning professional until he neared the end of his college career at Florida State University, and after winning a Metro Conference title he made the decision to enter the paid ranks in 1980. Two years later he obtained his playing privileges on the PGA Tour.

His early career was somewhat unusual – during his 20s through to his late 30s, normally considered to be a professional golfer’s most productive years, he won only once, but this was a very important victory – it was the 1988 PGA Championship.

His final round of 65 to win by three shots from Paul Azinger is considered to be one of the greatest performances by a major champion, and tied David Graham’s record for the lowest final round by the winner in this Major’s history.

The popular Chicago resident would have to wait until shortly before his 40th birthday to win again, in the Tucson Chrysler Classic, but during the nine years separating his two victories, Sluman finished second no fewer than eight times, as well as qualifying for the Tour Championship – reserved for the top-30 money earners on Tour – six times.

The 1990s would yield two more victories for the man known as a sports fanatic, in the 1998 Greater Milwaukee Open and in the Sony Open a year later. Sluman’s victory in Milwaukee is remembered for a brilliant third round of 63 which set up his victory, and approaching his 50th birthday, Sluman’s game seemed to improve. In 2001 he won the BC Open after beating Paul Gow in a play-off, and a year later he won his second Greater Milwaukee Open – amazingly it was again a third-round 63 that put him in position to win, which he did by four strokes.

Unofficial victories listed on the Sluman CV include two CVS Charity Classic titles (the first in 1999 when he teamed up with Stuart Appleby, the other in 2002 when he was partnered with Rocco Mediate), and two victories in the Franklin Templeton Shootout (2003 and ’04), both times partnered by Hank Kuehne.

Since qualifying for the Champions Tour in September 2007, Sluman has won a trio of titles, the first coming in the 2008 Bank of America Championship. On this occasion his final round charge, producing a 64, saw him finish two shots clear of Loren Roberts. His next triumph came only two months later

at Pebble Beach when he convincingly beat the field by five shots to claim the Walmart First Tee Open, a title which he successfully defended last season.

Although winless, Sluman’s 2010 season produced seven top-10 finishes and earnings of more than $950 000, placing him in the top 15 of the Tour’s money list.

Apart from his keen interest in sports, Sluman is also an enthusiastic collector of fine wines, and has more than 2 000 bottles in his cellar.

He might consider adding to this collection while in South Africa, but he is likely to be more interested in adding the Nedbank Senior Challenge’s crystal trophy to his silverware cabinet.

JEFF SLUMAN 72

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

BiographY BORN 11 September 1957 PLACE Rochester, New York TURNED PRO 1980 FAMILY Wife, Linda; one daughter SPECIAL INTERESTS Collecting wine, F1 racing, Chicago Bulls basketball CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 1988 PGA Champion, six PGA Tour victories, three wins on Champions Tour 2010 HIGHLIGHTS Runner-up at the AT&T Championship in October, six other top 10s on Champions Tour

Number crunch (champions TOUR)

DRIVING DISTANCE 280.4 yards (26th) DRIVING ACCURACY 74.08% (26th) GREENS IN REGULATION 72.22% (12th) PUTTING (PUTTS PER HOLE) 1.796 (48th) SCORING AVERAGE 70.36 (16th) MONEY LIST $957 312 (15th) As at 1 November 2010

­ ­

go l f W I T H O U T T I G E R

Good for the game?

The burning question across the golfing world in 2010 was: has wounded world number one Tiger Woods affected the game positively and allowed a whole crop of exciting new talent to emerge?

S

o we all know the trials and tribulations of brand Tiger over the past year-and-a-bit, but what effect has the Tiger that has been spat out at the other end of this particularly undulating roller coaster had on the game?

When he went into hiding after the scandals first began to break, the golfing world was left with a large amount of uncertainty – not so much as to if he would return, but rather when. To say that the media was in a frenzy is putting it mildly, but the fact that he was able to go into such deep hiding is testament to the powers of his formidable management team.

Given the harsh reaction of fans to his off-course behaviour, it didn’t take a genius to work out that the best place for him to make a re-appearance would be on the hallowed fairways of Augusta National. If running by ‘patrons’ is severely frowned upon, one can be fairly sure that hecklers would be ejected (and probably never seen by anyone ever again …)

Tiger’s season used to start in mid-January with the Buick Open. However, with the demise of the Buick sponsorship, one might have expected his 2010 season to start with the WGC World Matchplay in February had the confetti not hit the fan,

76

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

so to speak. Instead, the PGA Tour sat back and waited for him to undergo ‘rehab’, while Ian Poulter secured his first PGA Tour win, Ryan Palmer his second and 28-year-old Bill Haas his maiden victory.

There was much anticipation for Tiger’s return at the Masters and it looked like it might well go according to the brand Tiger script: return, win, be adored again … but he finished the third round out of the lead and he has never won a Major when not at least tied for the 54-hole lead.

Either he would have to re-write that part of the script or we were going to start to see the evidence of the battle scars of the preceding months. Phil Mickelson went on to win, which really was no great surprise, and there was little to suggest that Tiger’s invincibility was not still largely there.

He was back on Tour sooner than many expected at the Wells Fargo Championship, the precursor to The Players Championship (which is the PGA Tour’s so-called fifth Major). But he missed the cut! He had never missed a cut in the first four months of the year before and his two-round total was the highest of his professional career. The chinks had become chasms.

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Rory McIlroy

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What was particularly significant about that week was that arguably the most exciting young player on the planet happened to record his first PGA Tour victory just days shy of his 21st birthday. No wonder Rory McIlroy was to make the brave statement about wanting to take on Woods at the Ryder Cup. Put it down to the exuberance of youth, but others have lived to regret taunting an under-performing Tiger.

A litany of wild shots at the following week’s Players Championship and a withdrawal because of injury then led to the bombshell that Tiger’s coach of six years, Hank Haney, had fired him.

Away went Tiger for several more weeks, reappearing at the Memorial (where he was defending champion) and where he managed a top-20 finish, a distant 12 shots behind Justin Rose.

Tiger should simply have had to show up at Pebble Beach to collect the US Open trophy given his dominance the last time the USGA held their National Open there. Instead, he battled manfully and, when he failed to hold the third-round lead, he was all but written off as a contender. Tied for fourth, however, will not look bad in the record books.

Ulsterman Graeme McDowell surprised many by becoming the first European to win the US Open since Tony Jacklin in

1970 and once again gave evidence of the growing strength of European golf.

The Open at St Andrew’s beckoned, another Major that many had already given to Woods, considering his performances there in 2000 and 2005. But it was young Louis’ show and Tiger played a minor role in the end, starting far better than he finished and never threatening to upstage the youthful South African as he strode to that grandstand finish.

More of the same at the PGA Championship, where another exciting youngster, 25-year-old German Martin Kaymer gave notice of his prodigious talent and promising future in the game.

On to the Fed-Ex Cup Playoffs, where Tiger qualified by the narrowest of margins and then did enough to climb the ladder each week to perhaps stay the distance. By now, he had enlisted the services of Sean Foley to help with his swing.

But he failed to do enough to play in the Tour Championship, leaving the door open to a new FedEx Cup champion, gratefully taken by a resurgent veteran, Jim Furyk.

The PGA Tour is already in a precarious position following the financial crash of 2008, with banks and motor companies having to politely exit the big-budget stage of PGA Tour

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

79

g olf W I T H O U T T I G E R

sponsorship. The absence of Tiger must have caused Commissioner Finchem more than a few sleepless nights, especially as network contracts come up for re-negotiation and ratings are pitiful without one Tiger Woods keeping the fans entertained. There is no doubt that Tiger’s presence on the Tour is good for golf, even if he is not winning.

But if Tiger’s absence has not been good for the sponsors, how has it been for the players? Simply put, it has been brilliant! Imagine being a professional in the era of Tiger: if he’s in the field, you’ve been playing for second. If you walk into a media room full of bravado, claiming that Tiger can be beaten, your words come back to haunt you the very next time you and Tiger tee it up together.

So, while thanks to Tiger, you’re making a great living, you are unlikely ever to go down in the record books as a ‘great’ because Tiger is chalking up Major victories faster than any man ever before. By now, you are cursing your misfortune at being born into this era.

Not anymore, though. Tiger’s demons have had the upper hand in 2010 and have shown that he is not unbeatable, that he is human, has frailties and that he can be distracted from

the single-minded focus of demolishing golf courses and setting records. All of a sudden he is no longer a threat before the first tee shot is hit. The intimidation is not there. Anyone can – and does – win again.

This is great for the youngsters who are coming through, who perhaps have not witnessed the Tiger factor first hand in tournaments. And it’s just as good for Tiger’s contemporaries like Phil and Ernie who now have one less big thing to stand in their way as they plot their roadmaps to golfing greatness.

It might even help Sergio find his mojo.

What is clear is that there is unlikely ever to be another golfer who will dominate like Tiger did. The younger breed coming through have learnt from watching Tiger – Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy, Ryo Ishikawa, Martin Kaymer and, dare we say it, Louis Oosthuizen will be great competition for each other and we’re unlikely to see the stand-out dominance of a Tiger, circa late 90s, ever again. The pros were caught napping then – it won’t happen again.

With Tiger having taken a backseat golf-wise, we have seen the emergence of exciting young talent that may have been over-shadowed had Tiger been at his best. Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar have started to show the results that their stellar college careers promised, while Rickie Fowler is exciting fans the way Anthony Kim did when he burst onto the scene a few years ago.

Rory McIlroy is the ‘next big thing’; Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Luke Donald are taking up more and more of the limelight.

But don’t for a second think we have seen the last of Tiger. He, like the Terminator, will be back. He will strike the ball as well as ever and he will probably score as well. What he won’t do, however, is strike fear into the hearts and minds of his fellow competitors and they will not wilt like water-starved daisies when he starts climbing a leaderboard again. Because they will know that he is human, that he is beatable and not to be feared.

The cynics among us believe little of this swing rebuilding malarkey – Tiger is suffering mentally; the swing ‘problems’ were a ruse, something with which to get the media off the scent. Tiger has been hurting and it has hurt his game.

Has it been good for the game?

Hopefully when he gets back to his best – which he will – he will be a better person on and off the golf course. But he will find winning is just that little bit more difficult – and that’s great for the game!

TIGER’S DEMONS HAVE HAD THE UPPER HAND IN 2010 AND HAVE SHOWN THAT HE IS NOT UNBEATABLE, THAT HE IS HUMAN

80

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

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HOLE BY HOLE

One for

the ages It may have been changed and tweaked to keep pace with technological advances in golf equipment, but over thirty years of hosting Africa’s Major, the Gary Player Country Club has continued to set a stern yet fair test of golf for the world’s best, with the gallery around the final green on Sunday providing one the game’s most exhilarating amphitheatres

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

95

HOLE BY HOLE

Most will hit a club from the tee that takes the fairway bunkers out of play. Players will be left with a mid- to short iron to a green that slopes sharply from back to front and with some potentially wicked pin placements.

Distance control with the approach is vital to ensure a reasonably flat putt.

1

st

FIRST

403m

PAR STROKE

4 7

The first of four par-5s, all of which are genuine scoring opportunities. A fairway bunker right in driver territory and a sharp left to right camber on the fairway make the tee shot tough, but everyone will take a chance with the driver here to create the chance of reaching the green in two shots.

2

nd

second

520m

PAR STROKE

5 13

The tee shot on this par-4 is vital. A driver can leave a 9-iron or wedge into the green, but the risks are high, with bunkers on the right of the fairway and bush on the left. The prudent play is a 3-wood or less, which leaves a medium iron to a raised, well-bunkered and viciously sloping green.

3

rd

96

third

411m

PAR STROKE

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

4 3

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The number of tee positions and depth of the green allow for a distinctly different shot requirement on all four days. Few are tempted by the traditional front right pin position over the water on Sunday, while anywhere above the hole on this green leaves a lightning-fast putt.

4

th

fourth

195m

PAR STROKE

3 9

Most will hit a 3-wood off this tee to take a deep fairway bunker out of reach, which then leaves a medium to long iron into a green that was designed to accept short iron shots. If the pin is in a corner of the green, then the prudent play is to aim for the middle of the green and be happy with a two-putt par.

5

th

fifth PAR STROKE

449m 4 11

A short but potentially dangerous par-4 where the biggest threat lies in the tee shot, with a fairway bunker up the right and thick rough down the left. The green is well bunkered and is also protected by thick rough immediately in front of the green.

6

th

sixth PAR STROKE

388m 4 15

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

99

HOLE BY HOLE

The green has two distinct portions separated by a ridge and to get the tee shot all the way to a back left pin position requires a long iron for even the long hitters. Although a front right placement looks more inviting from the tee, it brings more bunkering on the right into play.

7

th

seventh

206m

PAR STROKE

3 17

A ditch running through the fairway rules the driver out off the tee, so almost everyone will be hitting a 3-wood here. Once the fairway has been found, there’s still plenty to do, with an approach that is uphill all the way to a green on which the pin can be tucked away. Frequently ranked the most difficult hole.

8

th

EIGHTH

450m

PAR STROKE

4 1

The most popular spot for spectators, the ninth green and surrounds provide one of the great amphitheatres in South African sport. On at least two of the four days, the island green will be in range in two shots, setting up the possibility of two-putt birdies and the odd eagle‌ but some potentially big numbers as well.

9

th

100

NINTH

545m

PAR STROKE

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

5 5

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A second consecutive par-5 that the players like to use to kickstart their back nine charge. The green is comfortably the smallest target on the course, demanding absolute precision from over 200 metres out if it is to be found in two, but you can expect to see a large number of up-and-down birdies here.

10

th

tenth PAR STROKE

500m 5 16

A visually intimidating tee shot, as the hole takes a 90-degree dogleg from right to left and there is nothing but thick bush all the way up the left. The prudent play is to aim straight and be content with finding the fairway, even if it does mean a slightly longer approach.

11

th

eleventh PAR STROKE

419m 4 10

It’s uphill all the way to the green on this short hole with a long, relatively narrow putting surface and some wicked slopes, especially near the back. The most important thing is to leave a putt from under the hole, as anything above will be difficult to stop.

12

th

twelfth PAR STROKE

200m 3 14

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

103

HOLE BY HOLE

There’s a surreal feeling at this hole – being the furthest from the clubhouse, there are seldom many spectators.

Four is always a good score as there is danger left and right off the tee and a green full of slopes and subtleties. A back right pin position is toughest, with a gaping bunker protecting the front.

13

th

thirteenth

406m

PAR STROKE

4 2

The infamous ‘love grass’ strategically scattered throughout the massive bunker that surrounds the green creates doubt in going for the green in two. Even for those laying up, the approach has to be absolutely precise with the green no more than 10 paces deep in places. Considered a real birdie opportunity.

14

th

fourteenth

550m

PAR STROKE

5 8

The real challenge lies in the tee shot; you need a miracle not to make bogey if you find the left-hand fairway bunker that is in the range of a 3-wood off the tee. The bunker front right of the green is one of the deepest on the course so to be shooting for a right pin position, hitting the fairway off the tee is imperative.

15

th

104

fifteenth

411m

PAR STROKE

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

4 6

Coca-Cola and the design of the contour bottle and Open Happiness are trademarks of the Coca-Cola Company Š 2010

The pressure of the home stretch can cause the odd wayward tee shot on the otherwise least intimidating of the four par-3s. The hole has the advantage of being versatile due to its variety of tee positions and the ridge running across the middle of the green to create two distinct tiers.

16

th

sixteenth PAR STROKE

193m 3 18

From the back tee it is a carry of more than 200 metres just to reach the fairway. The real risk, however, is with the approach shot; even with a good drive from the back tee, the players are left with a medium iron shot to a green positioned in the famous Sun City lake, with a deep bunker to the right protecting against a bale out.

17

Graphics: Courtesy Plus 4. (Contact Alan Hoffman at 082 254 0017 or email alan@plus4.co.za)

th

seventeenth PAR STROKE

437m 4 12

Most players will opt for a fairway wood or hybrid off the tee, to ensure best possible position in the fairway; the further left in the fairway the better on this 90-degree dogleg left. A pin position anywhere on the left is relatively accessible, but the traditional Sunday back right brings a gaping bunker into play and there is absolutely no margin for error with the approach.

18

th

eighteenth PAR STROKE

459m 4 4

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

107

COURSE LAYOUT COURSE HOLE

MS

PAR

1

403

4

2

520

5

3

411

4

4

195

3

5

449

4

6

388

4

7

206

3

8

450

4

9

545

5

10

500

5

11

419

4

12

200

3

13

406

4

14

550

5

15

431

4

16

193

3

17

437

4

18

459

4

TOTAL

7162

72

108

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

course layout

THE CHALLENGE CLUB FOR PUBLIC HOSPITALITY

SKYBOXES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Fedex Nashua Boschendal Castle Lite Coca-Cola Continental Outdoor Media Castle Lite Avis

HOSPITALITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Nedbank Pavilion Land Rover Transnet Sun International Sales Volvo Broadlink Oasys Hospitality Vodacom Business PriceWaterhouseCoopers SuperSport Nestle Old Mutual Bidvest Telkom Nedbank Green Sun City Gaming MVG

LEGEND: EXPO CENTRE ENTER THROUGH EXPO CENTRE INFORMATION PARCEL DROP OFF BLACKBERRY TECH CHECK SUN INTERNATIONAL MARKETING MERCHANDISING REFRESHMENTS

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY FOR SPECTATORS If the siren sounds, put down your umbrella and seek shelter immediately.

ON-COURSE FACILITIES PRACTICE GREEN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES PRACTICE RANGE VIP PARKING ON-COURSE LEADER BOARDS ON-COURSE BIG SCREENS ON-COURSE BETTING

ALSO AVOID THE FOLLOWING: • Grandstands • Telephone poles • Hilltops/high places • Metal or wire fences • Wearing metal spiked golf shoes • Bodies of water • Open fields • Tall or isolated trees • Golf Carts

MERCHANDISING SKYBOX SHUTTLE PICK-UP POINTS SPUR GRANDSTANDS PUBLIC/PARAPLEGIC TOILET FACILITIES REFRESHMENT STATIONS WATER POINTS

ATMs: AT EXPO CENTRE, ADJACENT to THE MERCHANDISING MARQUEE, THE SUN CITY HOTEL & THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE

CROSSOVERS TENNIS COURT

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

109

golf in sout h af r ica

the glorious state of

Louis Oosthuizen’s spectacular win in the 139th Open Championship turned the world’s attention to the relatively tiny golfing nation of South Africa and once again got everybody scratching their heads. Just how does South Africa continue to produce Major winners?

I

t is easy to point to great all-round weather and relatively accessible golf courses that are world-class, and it surely must mean that the game is in a healthy state. But talk to anyone in the know and they will tell you that some clubs are in a precarious state and rounds are down across the country. Certainly it’s a sign of economic times, but is there a greater threat to the game?

The custodian of the amateur game, the South African Golf Association (SAGA) has been through turbulent times of late, with a grand plan to create a commercial arm and a demand that all golfing bodies toe the line and become incorporated under one SAGA umbrella. On paper this makes sense, as golf in one unified body should surely be stronger.

Unfortunately, the process that has been followed has not always been totally transparent and communication from the upper echelons of power has often been sorely lacking. First of all, there was the handicapping debacle: the SAGA reasoned that it should have control of the systems in place and that it should be the custodian of the central server from which all handicaps are calculated. Again, a reasonable want; however, it meant muscling out the commercial entity that had contracted clubs throughout the country to handle their handicapping systems. This turned out to be a costly exercise, but it seems that the dust is beginning to settle and that club members are beginning to get a decent service once again.

The demand that other bodies ‘hand themselves over’ to the SAGA has also been fraught with unpleasantries from all sides, not least with regards to the junior body, the SA Junior Golf Foundation, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2010. Again, poor communication has plagued the way forward, but it seems that, with intervention from independent

110

N E D B A N K GOLF C HALLE N GE 2 0 1 0

parties, the bigger picture is beginning to be seen once again and the road ahead is slightly more apparent.

The Sunshine Tour, one of five founding Tours that make up the International Federation of PGA Tours, is in as healthy a position as it has ever been, with plenty of well-supported tournaments and happy sponsors who are confident about spending vast amounts of money in rights fees. In addition to having four co-sanctioned European PGA Tour events, the Tour is set to launch a ‘development’ Tour as a training ground for some of our stay- athome pros who need the experience to break into the ‘big time’.

It is clear that youngsters are getting into the game at a much younger age these days – probably thanks to the grainy videos of a two-year-old Tiger putting on a television show in the late ’70s. It is also thanks to a plethora of kids’ equipment that has burst onto the market and a more relaxed attitude by clubs to youngsters on their courses. (It helps that moms and dads tend to think that their talented little angel might just be their ticket to the good life too!) Gone are the days of having to wait until a child’s 12th birthday before signing them up to the club – memberships are offered to children as young as six or seven and, what’s more, there are competitions and playing opportunities for these little ones.

And it is not just the boys who are turning their interest in the game into a potential profession. Never before has South Africa had so many bright young female prospects, led by Lee-Anne Pace and her phenomenal success on the Ladies European Tour, where she campaigns alongside the likes of Ashleigh Simon and Stacy Bregmann, all providing role models for young South African female golfers.

At the forefront of this development is the Professional Golfers Association of South Africa, whose members are beginning to

Lee-Anne Pace golf in south africa

make inroads into pre-primary schools, searching out talent (as well as those who can afford to be in the game). The PGA is a much-changed organisation too. Since its split from the Sunshine Tour in the early 90s, it has focused a lot of its energy on the education of its members and now runs PGA courses in conjunction with several universities and other higher education facilities.

Clubs are benefiting from the employment of PGA professionals because these men and women are the experts in their fields, whether it is teaching, golf directorship or golf retail. The PGA of SA is also an important member of the World Alliance of PGAs and benefits greatly from the shared knowledge and information of some of the larger PGAs around the world.

If we go back to the likes of Charl Schwartzel, Richard Sterne, Thomas Aiken and Louis Oosthuizen, it is relatively easy to understand why they are succeeding. Simply put, there are structures in South African golf that complement one another and that work.

The SA Junior Golf Foundation has 13 provincial divisions, all of which run holiday golf tournaments for their young members – it is estimated that there are some 400 junior competitions run every year.

There are now U12, U14, U16 and U18 inter-provincial tournaments every year and numerous national Order of Merit events for juniors. This means plenty of opportunities to learn to compete from a young age.

In 2010 junior golf even managed to lure a major sponsor into its fold in the form of Glacier by Sanlam, which has backed its own Junior Series, a series of 20 regional one-day events, culminating in a national final where the winner gets an all-expenses paid trip to the prestigious Orange Bowl Junior Invitational in Florida. Each regional event is individually sponsored by a professional golfer or golf industry leader, among whom are the likes of Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel, Dale Hayes, Thomas Aiken, Dennis Bruyns, Selwyn Nathan and John Bland.

Both the PGA and Sunshine Tour are involved: the PGA presents parent talks and free lessons, while the Sunshine Tour is a partner sponsor and is using the Series as a platform from which to launch its junior fan club.

112

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

Richard Sterne

Simply put, there are structures in South African golf that complement one another and that work Charl Schwartzel

Thomas Aiken

Further up the amateur ranks, provincial unions continue to present well-run tournaments for elite players, while golf clubs are proud to host club opens and club championships are as strong as ever. Again, there are plenty of opportunities for young golfers to compete before embarking on the sometimes unforgiving path of a professional career.

In the past, the thinking was that in order to succeed on the world stage, a talented youngster had to attend a US college, but the likes of Schwartzel, Sterne and Oosthuizen are showing that is not necessarily the case.

Winning the SA Amateur Championship or Provincial Opens and representing one’s province at the Inter-Provincials are still proving to be very beneficial learning opportunities.

But what of the negatives? Just how healthy are our clubs? The answer is that many of them are wheezing and spluttering – memberships are down, and rounds are down. Now is the time for savvy marketers to step forward and encourage those who can afford to be in the game to be there. The long-identified emerging black middle class has got to be vigorously tapped, and new players need to be brought into the game.

Clubs have got to become proactive in filling empty tee times and even more committed to making full membership attractive and worthwhile. The threat from so-called virtual clubs continues to make club committees jittery, however they should be learning from the threat and turning it into opportunities.

Development of the game among poorer communities continues and the lessons learnt from golf bring greater benefits to those communities as a whole. Growth of the game must come from those who are able to sustain themselves within the club structures already existing.

While we revel in the successes of our young guns on the professional world stages and hang on to Ernie’s every putt hoping for another Major or two, we can be assured of the knowledge that we are part of something unique here in the world of golf. For a relatively tiny population of just some 180 000 registered golfers, we punch well above our weight.

Long term, the future looks very rosy too: we have the structures, we have the clubs, we have the courses and we have the programmes.

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GREENING

THE GREENS Sun City Resort and the Nedbank Golf Challenge continue to take environmental issues seriously and, this year, for the first time, will strive to present the tournament as a carbon neutral event

ENVIRONMENT

G

reg McManus of Heritage, the environmental management company, is at the forefront of guiding the process, which has included doing extensive audits of the impact of the tournament over the past few years.

This includes taking into account the carbon emissions created at the course itself, as well as those created by participants and spectators travelling to the tournament.

Since these first studies were done, considerable progress has been made in reducing carbon emissions, improving waste separation, and saving on energy consumption. McManus explains, ‘One of the biggest gains has been in water consumption; at one time clean water was used to irrigate the golf course, but now only grey water is used.

‘Also, the golf course is now completely electrified, meaning that all diesel generators have been replaced by electrical units, thereby reducing on-course emissions and limited energy-related emissions to the resort as a whole.’

It is well known that the Gary Player Country Club’s golf course was the first to be constructed adhering to US Golf Association specifications. The standards of conditioning seen at this course have also set standards that many other courses have tried to emulate, but very few have managed.

More importantly, the management of this resort has been at the forefront of environmental consciousness for some time, making the move towards being carbon neutral that much easier.

When one considers that most of the participants, their families, caddies and entourages have to fly from all over the world, one realises that the impact of just their travel alone is significant. As Sun International does these arrangements, they are able to ensure that the air travel used is as environmentally friendly as possible.

Then there is the not insignificant matter of some 60 000 spectators who turn out to watch the four days of the tournament. Most of them drive to the resort each day from surrounding cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria, so there is a big drive to encourage car-pooling and the use of bus and shuttle transport, thereby reducing emissions from motor vehicles.

As far as solid waste is concerned, the drive is towards ensuring that 75 percent of all solid waste is recyclable, which means a focus on environmentally friendly packaging (and even that this magazine is printed on paper that is made from sustainable resources). Nothing to do with the tournament is getting past the eagle eyes of those responsible for reducing its environmental impact.

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

115

ENVIRONMENT

So how does the event become carbon neutral? No matter how careful everyone is and despite best practices in every facet of golf-course maintenance and preparation, the fact remains that it will be almost impossible not to leave a carbon footprint. So how do they ‘balance the books’, so to speak, and become neutral? Well, in addition to the carbon credits created by the golf course itself with its myriad oxygenproducing trees, the tournament can purchase carbon credits to offset the tonnage created by the event.

Sun International and Nedbank are committed to purchasing these credits from local initiatives that benefit the environment locally rather than purchasing credits available globally. And so, through a committed programme of both environmentally friendly best practices that reduce carbon emissions and

One of the biggest gains has been in water consumption; at one time clean water was used to irrigate the golf course, but now only grey water is used

purchase of locally available carbon credits, one has a carbon neutral event. The ongoing challenge now is to reduce the number of carbon credits that must be purchased in order to attain neutrality.

If you’re a golfer reading this and wondering how this could benefit your golf club, that is a fair question. According to McManus, golf courses in South Africa, with their wide open spaces and plentiful trees could well be sitting on an untapped resource of carbon credits that, especially in these tough economic times, could add a welcome boost to club coffers.

It would make a lot of sense for golf clubs around the country to investigate their carbon credit value and a good place to start would be to contact a company like Heritage that will do a full environmental study of the course and its practices to ascertain what needs to be done.

There are a number of companies that will then be able to assist in putting values to those credits and, eventually, cash in the coffers. According to McManus, there is a resistance from some clubs that believe that the cost of becoming environmentally compliant outweighs the benefits of carbon credits but, as with all things environmental, it is best to take a long-term view of the benefits, rather than focusing on short-term windfalls.

Sun International and the Nedbank Golf Challenge may be taking the lead in carbon-neutral golf tournaments but we are hoping that other golf clubs will follow that example.

Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

116

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

Please help us in our endeavour to make the Nedbank Golf Challenge carbon neutral.

ROLL OF HONOUR

ROLL OF

honour

There have been 20 different winners of the Nedbank Golf Challenge from ten countries. Who will lift the crystal ball on Sunday?

2009

2006

R Allenby 68 70 68 H Stenson 70 68 70 Allenby won after a playoff T Clark 69 72 68 R Fisher 73 69 66 R Goosen 69 68 67 A Cabrera 71 67 68 N Watney 73 73 63 L Donald 72 71 68 R Karlsson 70 72 71 H Mahan 70 71 72 R Sterne 72 75 70 R McIlroy Withdrawn

71 277 $1.2 million 69 277 $600 000 69 70 75 75 73 72 71 73 75

278 278 279 281 282 283 284 286 292

$350 000 $350 000 $275 000 $260 000 $250 000 $240 000 $230 000 $220 000 $210 000

63 71 65 68 267 $1.2 million 73 70 68 65 276 $600 000 72 68 67 72 279 $400 000 68 70 72 70 280 $300 000 72 70 72 70 284 $267 500 70 72 70 72 284 $267 500 72 67 73 74 286 $245 000 72 77 70 67 286 $245 000 73 73 72 72 290 $230 000 72 73 69 77 291 $220 000 72 74 71 75 292 $210 000 75 76 73 69 293 $200 000

2007 T Immelman J Rose E Els H Stenson R Sabbatini G Ogilvy L Donald A Scott N Fasth C Schwartzel S Cink R Goosen

118

2003 68 67 69 72 70 70 72 71 74 69 71 75

66 71 71 67 69 70 76 69 75 73 73 77

68 71 65 70 71 71 68 73 66 73 69 70

74 69 75 72 72 75 71 74 73 76 79 76

276 278 280 281 282 286 287 287 288 291 292 298

$1.2 million $600 000 $400 000 $300 000 $275 000 $260 000 $245 000 $245 000 $230 000 $220 000 $210 000 $200 000

2005

2008 H Stenson K Perry R Karlsson R Sabbatini S Garcia L Westwood KJ Choi J Kingston J Rose T Immelman L Donald M-A Jiménez

J Furyk H Stenson P Harrington E Els C Schwartzel R Goosen S Garcia T Immelman C DiMarco D Howell J-M Olazábal C Montgomerie

J Furyk 68 70 D Clarke 67 70 R Goosen 70 69 A Scott 72 69 Furyk won after a play-off L Donald 70 68 T Clark 70 72 C DiMarco 72 71 A Cabrera 71 64 E Els 72 70 K Perry 76 72 S Garcia 74 70 S Cink 73 76

72 76 71 68

72 69 72 73

282 282 282 282

$1.2 million $433 000 $433 000 $433 000

75 67 72 74 73 75 74 78

70 75 73 80 75 68 74 71

283 284 288 289 290 291 292 298

$250 000 $225 000 $210 000 $195 000 $185 000 $175 000 $165 000 $155 000

71 72 74 66 69 70 71 71 74 72 72 74

69 71 74 72 74 72 80 75 78 72 72 78

281 287 287 288 288 291 291 292 293 297 299 303

$1.2 million $500 000 $500 000 $275 000 $275 000 $217 500 $217 500 $195 000 $185 000 $175 000 $165 000 $155 000

2004 67 68 69 72 76 69 68 67 74 74 72 74

66 65 67 65 68 73 71 71 72 74 73 71

67 67 69 72 67 70 71 72 70 68 75 75

72 73 72 72 71 71 73 76 72 74 71 78

272 273 277 281 282 283 283 286 288 290 291 298

$1.2 million $600 000 $400 000 $300 000 $275 000 $255 000 $255 000 $240 000 $230 000 $220 000 $210 000 $200 000

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

R Goosen E Els S Appleby J Furyk C DiMarco J Haas L Westwood T Hamilton N Price F Jacobson C Campbell S Garcia

70 70 70 74 71 75 70 74 71 75 80 75

71 74 69 76 74 74 70 72 70 78 75 76

S Garcia 68 66 R Goosen 70 67 Garcia won after a play-off V Singh 65 72 D Clarke 66 71 J Kelly 67 67 K Perry 65 68 C DiMarco 66 71 A Scott 66 74 S Appleby 67 75 F Funk 71 71 J Haas 70 72 T Clark 68 71 P Harrington 72 70 R Allenby 66 78 S Leaney 68 72 C Howell III 73 67 E Els 72 75 N Price 69 75

70 70 274 $1.2 million 68 69 274 $500 000 71 74 76 73 74 74 70 71 71 73 74 69 70 75 74 75

69 67 71 75 71 68 72 72 72 73 70 74 77 72 69 73

277 278 281 281 282 282 284 285 285 285 286 287 287 287 290 292

$400 000 $300 000 $200 000 $165 000 $145 000 $135 000 $130 000 $125 000 $120 000 $115 000 $100 000 $95 000 $90 000 $85 000 $80 000 $75 000

2004 champion Retief Goosen

2002 E Els C Montgomerie C DiMarco R Goosen J Furyk S Garcia N Price B Estes R Allenby D Clarke P Harrington M Campbell

1999 70 74 68 68 69 70 71 73 70 72 72 71

65 69 68 72 71 73 70 69 71 67 70 71

69 65 72 70 72 70 73 72 74 71 69 69

63 67 70 71 69 70 70 71 70 75 77 78

267 275 278 281 281 283 284 285 285 285 288 289

$2 million $300 000 $250 000 $212 500 $212 500 $175 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000

2001

Photographs: Grant Leversha, Getty Images/Gallo Images

1996 67 66 72 68 70 70 68 67 71 69 76 65

66 69 69 70 71 72 72 76 67 74 72 76

64 68 64 70 65 68 68 68 70 73 69 71

66 65 65 66 69 67 72 70 75 68 69 74

263 268 270 274 275 277 280 281 283 284 286 286

$1 million $250 000 $200 000 $175 000 $150 000 $125 000 $110 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

1998

S Garcia 68 71 E Els 67 66 Garcia won after a play-off B Langer 68 67 M Weir 68 67 L Westwood 69 65 P Harrington 70 72 N Price 68 71 T Bjorn 71 72 R Goosen 68 68 C Montgomerie 68 69 D Clarke 75 68 J Furyk 71 67

66 63 268 $2 million 66 69 268 $300 000 67 69 70 61 70 68 74 72 74 DQ

69 68 71 73 70 70 71 73 76

271 272 275 276 279 281 281 282 293

$250 000 $225 000 $200 000 $175 000 $160 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000

2000 E Els 66 L Westwood 65 Els won after a play-off N Price 69 T Bjorn 70 J Huston 72 C Montgomerie 69 J-M Olazábal 65 S Appleby 70 M Campbell 72 C Franco 77 D Clarke 68 M-A Jiménez 75

E Els C Montgomerie D Clarke L Westwood J Furyk C Franco N Price J Huston S Garcia J-M Olazábal M-A Jiménez P Lawrie

N Price 67 68 T Woods 72 68 Price won after a play-off J Leonard 69 68 M O’Meara 69 67 L Westwood 72 65 E Els 70 69 B Langer 69 70 J Parnevik 74 70 J Furyk 75 71 D Duval 72 73 C Montgomerie 71 74 T Watson 72 70

72 66 273 $1 million 67 66 273 $250 000 68 72 66 70 74 71 72 71 70 73

69 68 73 71 67 66 64 68 69 70

274 276 276 280 280 281 282 284 284 285

$200 000 $150 000 $150 000 $105 000 $105 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

66 65 67 74 75 70 68 67 75 69

67 65 64 64 67 71 70 69 73 70

67 69 71 69 70 69 70 68 68 74

269 269 274 276 277 280 280 281 284 288

$237 500 $237 500 $200 000 $175 000 $160 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000 $150 000

N Price E Els D Love III P Mickelson B Langer J Leonard C Montgomerie T Lehman J Parnevik M O’Meara N Faldo I Woosnam

68 274 $1 million 66 274 $250 000 70 71 70 73 71 72 73 73 73 69

275 275 277 277 279 282 283 283 283 284

$187 500 $187 500 $137 500 $137 500 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

1995 C Pavin N Price B Langer S Torrance T Lehman D Frost E Els N Faldo C Rocca V Singh C Montgomerie P Mickelson

69 71 72 69 71 74 72 72 76 75 79 73

72 67 69 73 70 76 72 78 75 72 76 77

69 72 71 70 73 71 69 69 67 74 71 72

66 71 71 72 73 68 78 72 73 72 71 76

276 281 283 284 287 289 291 291 291 293 297 298

$1 million $250 000 $200 000 $175 000 $150 000 $125 000 $103 330 $103 330 $103 330 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

66 71 68 73 68 71 76 72 71 72 72 80

64 66 70 67 69 69 71 69 70 70 71 73

73 70 67 71 74 70 68 68 72 74 72 76

69 68 72 66 68 69 66 73 70 72 73 78

272 275 277 277 279 279 281 282 283 288 288 307

$1 million $250 000 $187 500 $187 500 $137 500 $137 500 $110 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

1994

1997 67 67 68 268 $2 million 69 68 66 268 $350 000

C Montgomerie 65 71 70 E Els 67 70 71 Montgomerie won after a play-off S Jones 67 71 67 N Price 71 76 66 S Stricker 68 70 69 I Woosnam 68 69 67 B Langer 69 70 69 M O’Meara 69 71 70 T Lehman 71 71 68 N Faldo 73 68 69 M Brooks 68 70 72 C Pavin 68 71 76

71 69 68 67 69 74 78 74 70 76 73 74

68 70 67 68 70 72 68 74 70 71 73 73

68 70 74 69 67 67 69 69 79 69 71 72

68 67 67 73 72 68 71 69 70 75 74 73

275 276 276 277 278 281 286 286 289 291 291 292

$1 million $225 000 $225 000 $175 000 $150 000 $125 000 $105 000 $105 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

N Faldo N Price E Els D Frost B Langer T Lehman S Ballesteros M McNulty C Pavin H Irwin C Montgomerie V Singh

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

119

ROLL OF HONOUR

1993 N Price M McNulty B Langer F Allem N Faldo C Pavin E Els D Frost M O’Meara L Janzen P Stewart I Woosnam

67 71 72 72 67 71 76 71 74 76 75 76

66 70 69 70 73 70 69 70 71 73 75 78

66 68 70 72 72 71 69 73 70 75 72 80

65 67 68 66 69 73 73 74 75 71 73 75

264 276 279 280 281 285 287 288 290 295 295 309

$1 million $250 000 $200 000 $175 000 $150 000 $125 000 $110 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000 $100 000

1984

NIck Price is a three-time NGC champion

S Ballesteros N Faldo L Trevino R Floyd I Aoki T Kite B Crenshaw G Player G Norman D Watson

69 70 74 74 76 70 73 76 74 73

71 72 72 74 69 75 74 76 70 75

65 71 71 75 69 76 72 71 78 73

74 72 69 68 78 72 75 74 75 76

279 285 286 291 292 293 294 297 297 297

$300 000 $150 000 $105 000 $85 000 $75 000 $67 000 $60 000 $52 700 $52 700 $52 700

69 75 70 67 74 71 72 74 77 69

67 72 67 71 70 70 68 69 68 71

70 67 73 71 69 69 72 71 71 73

68 65 69 70 68 71 70 70 69 72

274 279 279 279 281 281 282 284 285 285

$300 000 $127 500 $127 500 $85 500 $71 500 $71 000 $60 000 $56 000 $52 000 $50 000

1983 1992 D Frost J Cook F Couples E Els B Langer J-M Olazábal I Woosnam C Parry N Price N Faldo

70 73 74 70 73 72 75 74 72 69

69 68 70 69 69 73 73 75 67 72

68 70 73 77 74 73 75 76 DQ DQ

69 69 67 68 70 74 73 72

276 280 284 284 286 292 296 297

$1 million $300 000 $225 000 $225 000 $150 000 $140 000 $130 000 $120 000

1991 B Langer M Calcavecchia M McNulty N Faldo F Couples J Bland I Woosnam J Daly S Elkington D Frost

68 72 66 72 71 74 73 72 67 72

65 67 71 69 71 70 68 73 74 75

67 71 71 68 74 68 78 72 79 77

72 67 74 76 71 75 74 77 78 76

272 277 282 285 287 287 293 294 298 300

$1 million $300 000 $250 000 $200 000 $145 000 $145 000 $130 000 $120 000 $110 000 $100 000

71 73 69 77 73 79 75 80 81 75

71 70 74 68 72 76 72 67 71 74

71 73 70 68 74 69 70 74 71 73

71 69 75 75 71 69 76 76 77 81

284 285 288 288 290 293 297 297 300 303

$1 million $300 000 $225 000 $225 000 $150 000 $135 000 $135 000 $120 000 $110 000 $100 000

120

72 67 67 72 74 71 71 76

71 72 72 70 70 69 73 74

66 74 70 69 68 72 71 78

69 66 71 72 72 73 72 78

278 279 280 283 284 285 287 306

$1 million $200 000 $100 000 $90 000 $80 000 $70 000 $60 000 $50 000

1987 I Woosnam N Faldo D Frost C Strange J-M Olazábal F Allem B Langer L Wadkins

67 68 70 72 68 66 70 71

71 71 70 69 73 69 68 72

68 68 68 72 70 74 73 72

68 71 72 70 72 74 74 75

274 $1 million 278 280 283 283 283 285 290

1986 M McNulty L Wadkins B Langer TC Chen I Woosnam H Clark D Frost D Graham G Player

74 69 70 75 75 69 71 73 75

70 72 68 68 70 69 75 74 74

70 71 74 75 71 74 71 72 71

68 70 74 69 71 76 72 71 73

278 285 286 287 287 288 289 290 293

$300 000 $150 000 $105 000 $81 000 $81 000 $65 000 $60 000 $56 000 $52 000

1985

1989 D Frost S Hoch T Simpson D Pooley C Beck A Bean S Lyle F Allem S Simpson K Green

F Allem D Pooley K Green I Woosnam C Beck D Frost M McNulty B Langer

1982 R Floyd 72 69 C Stadler 72 67 Floyd won after a play-off L Trevino 71 73 L Wadkins 70 70 J Miller 72 68 S Ballesteros 67 71 J Pate 67 73 J Nicklaus 70 71 G Norman 71 72 G Player 71 75

68 71 280 $300 000 70 71 280 $150 000 70 68 71 73 66 72 78 72

67 74 72 75 80 74 70 76

281 282 283 286 286 287 291 294

$105 000 $85 000 $75 000 $63 500 $63 500 $56 000 $52 000 $50 000

1981

1990 D Frost J-M Olazábal B Langer S Elkington F Allem R Gamez K Green S Lyle T Armour III T Simpson

1988

S Ballesteros F Zoeller N Faldo D Graham J Miller R Floyd L Trevino C Stadler N Price L Nelson

67 67 67 73 72 81 75 76 72 72

66 72 69 71 70 74 73 75 75 77

75 71 72 76 76 71 76 70 80 75

68 69 72 71 76 69 74 78 74 77

276 279 280 291 294 295 298 299 301 301

$1 million $300 000 $250 000 $200 000 $150 000 $140 000 $130 000 $120 000 $105 000 $105 000

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE 2010

B Langer L Wadkins M O’Meara S Ballesteros L Trevino TC Chen D Graham D Watson H Green S Lyle

69 70 70 73 69 75 72 75 76 71

70 69 71 72 69 67 74 70 74 70

68 68 71 70 71 69 70 68 70 77

71 73 69 67 74 73 69 75 69 73

278 280 281 282 283 284 285 288 289 291

$300 000 $150 000 $100 000 $87 000 $75 000 $65 000 $60 000 $56 000 $52 000 $50 000

J Miller 72 68 S Ballesteros 69 68 Miller won after a play-off J Nicklaus 70 70 L Trevino 70 74 G Player 70 77

Johnny Miller

66 71 277 $500 000 69 71 277 $160 000 69 69 278 $130 000 74 71 289 $110 000 72 73 292 $100 000