Tommy Fleetwood will return to the Nedbank Golf Challenge as ‘Africa’s Major’ celebrates its milestone 40th anniversary from 10-13 November.
The European Ryder Cup star lifted the trophy in 2019 – the last time the event took place due to the Covid-19 pandemic – and will defend his title when the $6-million event makes a much-anticipated return to Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.
The penultimate tournament on the 2022 DP World Tour schedule will also carry an increased number of DP World Tour ranking points (7,000).
The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been a highlight of the South African sporting calendar since its first edition in 1981, with former European No 1 Fleetwood joining a glittering list of winners when he sealed his fifth DP World Tour title after coming from six shots back going into the final day to triumph in a thrilling playoff against Swede Marcus Kinhult.
The English star joined a roll of honour that includes South African golfing icon Ernie Els – a three-time winner of the event alongside Lee Westwood, Nick Price and David Frost – the legendary Seve Ballesteros, and Major champions Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett.
Two years earlier, during a stellar 2017 season, Fleetwood recorded a top-10 finish at Gary Player Country Club, which proved to be crucial as he went on to top what was then the Race to Dubai Rankings for the first time in his career.
“I’ve had some fantastic experiences at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and I can’t wait to get back to Sun City,” Fleetwood said. “I’ve been lucky enough to be able to call myself the champion for longer than usual, but I’m certainly looking forward to starting my defence in November.
“It was a great feeling to come through the field on that final day to lift the trophy. Add that to the top-10 finish in 2017 which helped me on the way to becoming European No 1, and I certainly have some great memories of the tournament which I would love to replicate.”
The Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again be included on the DP World Tour schedule in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International, and as the penultimate event before the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
The winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit will receive a place in the 64-player field at Gary Player Country Club.
The last edition of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2019 delivered record-attendance figures and sold-out hospitality. Ticketing information for the milestone 40th event will follow in due course.
