Louis Oosthuizen – the 2010 Open Championship winner – is grouped with the standout rookies of the 2019 campaign in American Kurt Kitayama and Scot Robert MacIntyre for the opening rounds of the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player.
The trio start their Sun City bid at 10:28am as Oosthuizen goes in search of the elusive crystal ball. The bookies favourite was leading late on Sunday in 2018 before a sublime finish from Lee Westwood ensured local heartbreak.
Four-time Major champion Ernie Els will kick off the event at 9:00am alongside 2020 European Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington and Englishman Matthew Southgate. 2016 Open Championship winner Henrik Stenson gets underway 22 minutes later with American David Lipsky and Spaniard Adri Arnaus.
Three of the top ten on the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings are in a threeball together as Tommy Fleetwood (tenth), Matt Wallace (seventh) and South African Erik van Rooyen (eighth) begin at 10:39am at the first, while two time Major winner Martin Kaymer starts on the back nine at 10:28am with Malaysia’s Gavin Green and Spaniard Nacho Elvira.
Defending champion Westwood will go out in the final group of the day.
The Englishman held back the tears after returning to the winner’s circle for the first time since 2014 when he claimed his first Rolex Series event at this venue last year. Westwood produced a stunning closing 64 to win by three shots ahead of Sergio Garcia and home favourite Louis Oosthuizen to secure his 24th European Tour crown at Gary Player Country Club.
The 46-year-old will be in acclaimed company for the opening two rounds in South Africa this time around, playing alongside Ryder Cup winner Matthew Fitzpartick – who has recorded five second placed finishes this season – and 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex leader Bernd Wiesberger, starting at 10:50am.
