Sun City challenge goes from bunker to fairway

18 November 2015 - 02:14 By Liam del Carme

Born in a homeland in an age of isolation when small, elite fields were the order of the day, the Nedbank Golf Challenge has evolved to embrace the world. From next year 72 players will be invited, which will bestow on the event the status of a proper tournament in feel and size.It is a far cry from the nine players who were carefully assembled for the first tournament in 1981, when Johnny Miller prevailed in the dusk in a play-off.Times change and the tournament has gradually gravitated towards the light.In 2013, entries were expanded from 12 to 30.From next year the Nedbank Golf Challenge will occupy a premier spot on the European Tour's elite final series of the Race to Dubai.It will now also be contested in the second week of November, just a week ahead of the DP World Tour Championship.Keith Waters, chief operating officer and director of international policy for the European Tour said: "The addition of such a prestigious tournament as the Nedbank Golf Challenge to our final series in 2016 will not only enhance the series itself but will also increase the excitement and anticipation of golf fans across the world."The field of 72 players will be made up of 64 players taking part in the Race to Dubai; the previous year's Nedbank Golf Challenge champion; the winner of the Sunshine Tour's order of merit for the previous season and six players who will be invited based on their position in the world rankings.This year's tournament will be held from December 3 to 6 at Sun City, with two names still to be added to the confirmed list of 28...

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