Branden Grace is hoping to end a nine-year hoodoo at the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player as the seven-time European Tour winner aims to become the first home winner since 2007 at an event which he regards as the “African Major”.
The 28 year old is currently the highest-ranked South African player in the Official World Golf Ranking, in 15th position, while he occupies tenth position in the Race to Dubai heading into the penultimate event of the season.
Grace is already a winner this season on the European Tour, having successfully defended his Commercial Bank Qatar Masters title in January, and has also added a victory on the US PGA Tour to his repertoire this year.
Having grown up watching the Nedbank Golf Challenge and dreamed of one day playing it, the Pretoria-born player is now targeting a long-overdue home victory at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
The other players hoping to emulate Trevor Immelman’s 2007 home triumph are Louis Oosthuizen – the highest-ranked player on the Race to Dubai in seventh position – Thomas Aiken, George Coetzee, Retief Goosen, Charl Schwartzel, Richard Sterne, Brandon Stone and Jaco Van Zyl.
While home hopes are high at the Gary Player Country Club, the European challenge is formidable, with Major champions Padraig Harrington, Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson and Danny Willett bringing their considerable presence to Sun City.
As the Race to Dubai’s respective number one and two going into the penultimate event of the European Tour season, Stenson and Willett are the headline act in Thursday’s first round draw.
The pair will play alongside Tyrell Hatton, with Stenson knowing a second career Nedbank victory, coupled with Willett not finishing in second place, would see him crowned the European Tour Number One for the second time in his career. Willett, though, is looking to outperform the Swede in the hope of entering the year’s final event as the man to beat.
Branden Grace
“There’s nothing like it, honestly, this is a great week. For me growing up as a South African, this is our African Major. This is what we dream of, this is the tournament we want to play in.
“I was actually a little bit scared coming in this week, knowing that it’s 64 guys. We didn’t know what to expect but the guys have put on a great show so far. I think it’s only going to get better with the beach party tomorrow and the braai in the bush – it’s going to be fun and it gives the first timers here something else to see.
“We need a South African winner here. I think it’s been lacking for quite some while. We’ve got a good couple of guys in this year and guys that have actually been playing well in the last couple of weeks too. Hopefully for South Africa’s sake, it can be a South African winner.
“I must say the course is in some of the best condition I’ve seen. I know with the drought that’s been going on, the greenkeepers at this place have done an amazing job so far and I think it’s only going to get better as well. It’s firming out and the greens are getting quicker, and I’m really happy to be here.”
Martin Kaymer
“I must say the quality of the golf event hasn’t really changed with the tournament being in the Final Series, to be honest. I did wonder – the first time I came here was in 2011 and then 2012, they were brilliant events because it was very special to make it here; it was very difficult to get in the field.
“I thought maybe the quality and the service that we players enjoy every year might suffer a little bit. But so far, it’s been very good, and I’m surprised how well the European Tour and the guys from Nedbank and Sun City have done it so far.
“In the end, if you have a field of 30 players or 72 players, it doesn’t really make a big difference because you don’t see most of the players anyways. Because it’s so small, you can play practice rounds whenever you want, you don’t really have to wait. It’s a real luxury tournament that we play here.
“It’s always good to come back to a golf course where you have positive memories and it’s a very nice environment. I feel like the South African people, they are very similar to the Germans, our cultures as well, in certain things. I really feel comfortable here in South Africa.”
Retief Goosen
“It’s obviously a great feeling being back here at Sun City. It’s one of my favourite golf courses in the world. Nedbank has done an unbelievable job here over the years.
“Coming back here as a past champion is a great feeling too. I wish I was in a little bit better form playing here, but you never know. You come back to somewhere where you like, you tend to find a bit of form.
“This event has always been one of the best events in the world. Walking around, playing today, seeing what effort goes into this event, around 18, it feels like you’re playing a major championship – there are stands everywhere.
“It’s amazing what they have done with this event, and I’m glad that it’s part of such a big Race to Dubai Final Series now.”
