Major Champion and former World Number One Justin Rose will tee it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge when the popular event returns to Gary Player Country Club from November 9-12.
The 2013 U.S. Open Champion will return to Sun City for the first time in ten years, when he finished in a tie for seventh at ‘Africa’s Major’.
The US$6,000,000 event is the penultimate tournament on the 2023 Race to Dubai, carrying an increased number of Rankings Points as the 64-man field vies for a place in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Rose, who was born in Johannesburg, won his first professional event at the Dunhill Championship, held in the country of his birth, and will return to Sun City for the first time since 2013.
“It’s been ten years since I last played the Nedbank Golf Challenge and I’m really looking forward to getting back,” Rose said.
“I am a proud Englishman but South Africa holds a special place in my heart as the country of my birth and also where I won for the first time as a professional.
“To play in front of South African crowds who love their sport is always good fun so I am really looking forward to it.”
Gary Player, the Tournament Host, said: “Justin Rose is a magnificent example of everything this game stands for. He has been a professional since the age of 17 and has shown perseverance, poise and sportsmanship in amassing an incredible CV of victories worldwide and a Major triumph. He also showed a true heart for the game when he supported its return to the Olympics and won the gold medal. It’s going to be great to welcome him back to his South African roots.”
Anthony Leeming, Chief Executive Officer of Sun International, said: “Justin Rose won one of his first professional titles at another of our properties, the Wild Coast Sun Country Club in 2002. This, combined with his strong links to South Africa, make it a very proud moment for us to welcome him back to the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Sun City for this year’s tournament. We’re looking forward to hosting another memorable week of the world’s best golfers matched by the unrivalled entertainment offering at Sun City.”
Mike Brown, Chief Executive of Nedbank, said: “It’s wonderful to have Justin Rose back in South Africa, the country of his birth, and back challenging for glory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He came close when he finished second to Trevor Immelman in 2007 and it’s great to have him back here as a Major champion, Ryder Cup star and an Olympic gold medallist.”
The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been a highlight of the South African sporting calendar since its first edition in 1981, with defending champion Tommy 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 is once again included on the DP World Tour’s global 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 also receive a place in the 64-player field at Gary Player Country Club.
