Francesco Molinari will make his third appearance in ‘Africa’s Major’ when he returns to the Nedbank Golf Challenge for the first time in six years from November 9-12.
The Italian, a Vice Captain for Team Europe in their Ryder Cup triumph earlier this month, will join fellow Major winners Justin Rose and Justin Thomas in the field at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, as well as defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, with whom he forged the unforgettable ‘Moliwood’ partnership at the 2018 Ryder Cup.
The US$6 000 000 event, which will also feature European Ryder Cup winners Robert MacIntyre and Nicolai Højgaard and American star Max Homa among the 66-player field, carries an increased number of Race to Dubai Ranking Points, and is the penultimate tournament on the 2023 DP World Tour schedule ahead of the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
The 2018 Open Champion finished in a tie for 12th on his tournament debut in 2013 before registering a tie for 27th on his last appearance in Sun City in 2017, and he is now looking forward to returning to South Africa as part of a strong field for ‘Africa’s Major’.
“This event has always been a highlight on the DP World Tour and I am really excited to tee it up in Sun City next month,” he said.
“Playing golf in South Africa is like nowhere else in the world. The wildlife is incredible to see and it is a great golf course as well. Gary Player is a legend of golf and it is an honour to play in an event which carries his name. I can’t wait to get down there.”
A host of DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour stars are assembling for the 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge, with four-time DP World Tour winner Rasmus Højgaard and 2022/23 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner Ockie Strydom, who has won twice on the 2023 Race to Dubai, also confirmed to tee it up in Sun City .
The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been a highlight of the South African sporting calendar since its first edition in 1981, with defending champion Fleetwood among a glittering list of winners including South African golfing icon Ernie Els – a three-time winner of the event – the legendary Seve Ballesteros, and Major Champions Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman and Danny Willett.
The 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge will once again be included on the DP World Tour schedule in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International and will be 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 66-player field at Gary Player Country Club.
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