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Africa's Major is back in its traditional early December slot for the second year and the field is stacked
By BRENDAN BARRATT
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The Women’s Open tees off at Royal Porthcawl
When barely a fifth of a field of the world's best finishes a tournament in red numbers, you know the golf course has challenged players. It's certainly no cause for alarm, or for organisers to set about making notable course changes, yet that is what happened 12 months ago, and ahead of this year's Nedbank Golf Challenge, host Gary Player has opted to make some significant design tweaks to his own layout.
Some of the changes, such as some bush clearing on the par-three 4th hole, are more aesthetic. Others, like the lengthening of the par-three 7th by 25 metres, and the par four 15th by a significant 45 metres, are to make things more challenging for the world's best golfers.
'When it comes to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, we're synonymous with providing both a great spectacle and challenge for the players,' said Ken Payet, the Tournament Director for the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
'Mr Player has been instrumental in making these changes. These players are the best in the world and we want to keep challenging them, while also keeping the balance so it remains exciting for the fans to watch.'
The lengthening of holes is an obvious counter to the advances of modern technology and player athleticism. While the Gary Player Country Club has never been a course that players can easily overpower, there have been hints that the modern golfer could be starting to favour brawn over brain around what has traditionally been a thinker's layout.
Holes designed 30 years ago are not playing the same way as they were originally intended – at least not for professional golfers, and many great holes have been reduced to driver and a short iron.
Low scoring is not in itself a bad thing – fans do love to see birdies, yet every course designer wants to see the top players using most of the clubs in their bags. They also want players to think carefully about how they play each hole.
Player's latest tweak to the iconic par-five 9th hole, with its semi-island green surrounded by hospitality suites, is meant to encourage players to be on the offensive.
LAST 10 WINNERS
2024
Johannes Veerman (US)
283
2023
Max Homa (US)
269
2022
Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)
277
2020/2021
No event (Covid-19)
2019
Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)
276
2018
Lee Westwood (Eng)
273
2017
Branden Grace (SA)
277
2016
Alex Noren (Swe)
274
2015
Marc Leishmann (Aus)
269
2014
Danny Willett (Eng)
270
2013
Thomas Bjorn (Den)
268
'Mr Player removed the fairway bunker on the right to encourage the professionals to hit driver down that right-hand side, and then entice them to go for the green in two and chase the birdies and eagles the fans wants to see,' said Payet.
This year's line-up – once again played opposite Tiger Woods' Hero World Challenge – has managed to draw an intriguing field. World No12 Viktor Hovland will make his maiden appearance in 'Africa's Major', and joins South African PGA Tour players Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thriston Lawrence (pictured, top), Garrick Higgo, Aldrich Potgieter (pictured, bottom) and Erik van Rooyen. Americans Will Zalatoris and Max Homa, Canadians Corey Conners, Nick Taylor and Mackenzie Hughes, and Belgium's Thomas Detry join them as headliners of the field.
While there is no shortage of big names, the tournament appears to be about as open as it's ever been. China's Haotong Li, coached by South African Jamie Gough, is looking to become the first Asian winner of Africa's Major, while former champions Homa (2023) and Danny Willett (2014) are flying under the radar, and American Johannes Veerman (main picture) is back to defend his title.
2024 NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE IN PICTURES - Gallery below
Local players such as reigning SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo, 2024 Sunshine Tour Courier Guy Order of Merit champion Daniel van Tonder, Robin Williams and Jacques Kruyswijk will be looking to be the first home-grown players to get their name on the crystal trophy since Branden Grace won here in 2017.
When you consider the long list of South African champions, including Ernie Els (a three-time winner), Nick Price (3), David Frost (3), Fulton Allem, Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen, it's baffling to think that the country has only produced one winner in the last 17 years.
Rookie Potgieter very nearly broke the drought last year. The 20-year-old led well into the final round, only to see his victory hopes derailed by a triple bogey on the par three 12th – statistically the hardest hole on the course – and a pair of late bogeys.
Potgieter, a former British Amateur champion and GolfRSA National Squad player, has bounced back from a series of near misses on the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour. A playoff win in the Rocket Classic earlier this year made him the youngest South African PGA Tour winner and saw his rise into the top 50 of the world rankings. Armed with year's experience on the US Tour, he will be one to watch.
WINNING STATS
Most wins
3 David Frost
(1989, 1990, 1992)
3 Nick Price
(1993, 1997, 1998)
3 Ernie Els
(1999, 2000, 2002)
3 Lee Westwood
(2010, 2011, 2018)
Most Runner-Up Finishes
4 Ernie Els
(1996, 1997, 2001, 2004)
Lowest Winning Score
263 (-25)
Ernie Els 1999
Highest Winning Score
284 (-4)
David Frost 1990
Biggest Winning Margin
12 strokes
Nick Price 1993
(264 to beat Mark McNulty)
Lowest Non-Winning Score
268
Colin Montgomerie 1999
(lost by 5 to Ernie Els)
268
Lee Westwood 2000
(playoff to Ernie Els)
268
Ernie Els 2001
(playoff to Sergio Garcia)
SUNSHINE TOUR | TYRONE WINFIELD | LUKE WALKER
