When is the… 2017 Nedbank Challenge?
The 2017 Nedbank Challenge could prove vital in the Race to Dubai as the European Tour season is almost at a close.
There is a $7.5 million prize purse for the tournament as it is part of the Rolex Series that offers more money and points for the Race to Dubai.
Here is all you need to know about the tournament.
A brief history of the Nedbank Challenge
Gary Player plays host at the tournament that has been running since 1981 but until 2005 the event was an unofficial money list event. The tournament was previously known as the Million Dollar Challenge until 2000.
The 72 man field consists of the top 64 players from the Race to Dubai, the defending champion, the Sunshine Tour order of merit winner from the previous year and players who are invited to play in the tournament.
Did you know…
Ernie Els holds a number of records at the tournament. The ‘Big Easy’ has won the tournament three times, the same as fellow South African David Frost. Els also holds the record for the lowest score at the tournament with an aggregate score of 263 (-25) in 1999.
Where is the 2017 Nedbank Challenge?
The South African Open is played at the Gary Player Country Club which is located in Sun City which is in the north west of South Africa.
Henrik Stenson (2008) and Els (2002) hold the course record with rounds of 63.
When is the 2017 Nedbank Challenge?
The tournament will take place between the 9th-12th November.
Who is the defending champion?
Alex Noren was victorious in 2016 by dominating the field and winning by six shots to Jeung-Hun Wang ins second place.
He became the second Swede to win the tournament with Henrik Stenson winning the tournament in 2008.
In the market for some new winter golf gear?
The world according to…Jordan Smith
Matthew Beedle
Matthew has been playing golf since he was around 13 and took up the game at a local nine-hole municipal course with his friends before joining Pontefract & District Golf Club just over the hedge.
Still a member of Pontefract with a handicap of 3, he currently sits on the board of directors to help with digital and marketing initiatives in order to improve membership and visitor income.
Matthew graduated university with a First Class in Sports Journalism from Leeds Trinity University and has been working in the golf industry since graduating.
NCG’s social media & marketing manager, Matthew’s main job role is to increase website traffic to the National Club Golfer website via our email and social media channels as well as driving entries to grow our NCG Top 100s Tour events amongst other tasks.
Not one to change his equipment too often, Matthew currently plays the TaylorMade M2 driver which has lasted the test of time in his bag. Elsewhere, you’ll find him using the TaylorMade Stealth 2 three-wood with a Ping G425 Crossover 2-iron to aid his long game.
Through his 4-iron to Gap Wedge, Matthew uses the Ping i500 irons accompanied by Ping’s Glide 3.0 56-degree and 60-degree wedges.
Another club that has stood the test of time in his bag is a Nike Method Core MC-3i putter which has had to have the SuperStroke grip changed at least three times. Ball of choice is the Titleist ProV1.
