Three stars confirmed
FITZPATRICK, POULTER AND WIESBERGER HEAD SOUTH
Matt Fitzpatrick, Ian Poulter and Bernd Wiesberger will return to Sun City after confirming they will tee up in the Nedbank Golf Challenge from November 14-17.
Wiesberger rose to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings after his second Rolex Series win of 2019 at the Italian Open, adding to his Scottish Open triumph in July. His first of three titles this season came at Made in Denmark in May, beginning a run of three wins in just 13 starts.
The 34-year-old, who has won seven times on the European Tour, is bidding to become the first Austrian to top the season-long rankings.
“After a fantastic summer, I’m looking to end the season strongly and maintain my position at the top of the Race to Dubai,” said Wiesberger. “There is still so much to play for in the final few weeks of the season, especially with the increase in points, but I couldn’t ask to be in a better position than I am at the moment.
“It was disappointing to miss last year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge due to injury, so I’m looking forward to returning to Sun City next month.”
Poulter, a 12-time winner on the European Tour, last played in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2017, finishing in a share of 19th place.
The Englishman’s first win as a professional came in Africa, winning the 18th Open Cote d’Ivoire on the European Challenge Tour in 1999.
“I’m really looking forward to returning to Sun City for this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge,” said Poulter. “I have a lot of happy memories from playing in Africa.
“Sun International and Gary Player are fantastic hosts and it’s a course we’re all looking forward to playing on again.”
His 2016 Ryder Cup team-mate Fitzpatrick has been one of the most consistent performers on the 2019 Race to Dubai, with four runner-up finishes to his name, as he seeks a sixth European Tour title. The 25-year-old is currently fourth on the Race to Dubai Rankings and, with an increased haul of points on offer this year – 10 000 – will be hoping to secure his place in the top five at the end of the season.
Tournament host Gary Player said: “I am delighted we continue to see a strong contingent of European Tour players commit to compete in South Africa. We have always attracted the best in the world to Sun City, and with a mixture of veterans like Ian and Bernd, coupled with the rising stars like Matt, we are in for a real treat.”
The trio join South African Major winners Ernie Els and Louis Oosthuizen in the field at Sun City, alongside 2020 European Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington, 2018 Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Lee Westwood.