The Nedbank Golf Challenge is approaching its 40th years as an iconic tournament that has captivated the golf world with its offering of top-tier talent since 1981.
After disruptions caused by the pandemic, the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City will be the stage to mark this occasion from 10 – 13 November.
The tournament, nicknamed Africa’s Major, debuted in 1981 and garnered attention from the world’s sports media by offering golf’s first million-dollar purse to be offered to the winner.
Ensuring even more excitement and anticipation, five of the world’s leading players, namely Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino and Johnny Miller, participated.
Miller was crowned the inaugural champion following a play-off with a young Ballesteros against the backdrop of the new Sun City resort and the array of celebrities in attendance, which included Sean Connery, Telly Savalas and James Hunt.
Over the decades that followed, the tournament continued to evolve – from its prize money, to the size of its field. The field grew from its initial 5 players to 10, which then grew to 12 before expanding to its current field of 64 players.
It is renowned for attracting big stars of the sport like Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
The tournament’s prize money also led international standards for the sport. It has gone from the $1 million in total prize money and $500 000 for the winner in 1981, to a $1 million winner-takes-all prize when Ian Woosnam won in 1987, to $2 million for the 2000 champion Ernie Els, and its 2019 total purse of $7,5 million with $2,5 million for the champion, Tommy Fleetwood.
This is Nedbank’s longest-running sponsorship; as the official bank of the tournament and then as the title sponsor.
The tournament has witnessed the greatest eras in golf: from the dominance of Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Player and Tom Watson, to the emergence of Woods and Rory McIlroy.
