Grace hoping for home glory at Nedbank Golf Challenge

The highest-ranked South African player in the Official World Golf Ranking Branden Grace is now targeting a long-overdue home victory at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

1624
Branden Grace of South Africa

Nov 10, 2016: 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 HarringtonMartin 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.

 

Euroepan Tour Release

Join the Conversation