The Nedbank Golf Challenge holds a special place in the hearts of golf fans around the world. Here Damien Kayat provides his top five editions.
The Nedbank Golf Challenge holds a special place in the hearts of South African sports enthusiasts of a particular vintage.
My formative sporting memories consist of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Wimbledon and Gary Player Country Club. Known affectionately as Africa’s Major, the Nedbank Golf Challenge was an annual celebration of golf that attracted illustrious competitors.
It was elevated to Rolex Series status a few years prior to the pandemic. Even after the pandemic, it was situated in that little bustle period prior to the Race to Dubai Playoffs.
It unfortunately became part of the Opening Swing last year, making it one of two official tour openers for the wraparound season.
This has greatly affected the field depth, with many of the top pros opting to put their feet up and enjoy their well-earned break.
I do hope that the event finds its way into the nitty-gritty of the tour in the future. But until that happens, I thought it would be a fitting time to go down memory lane and signal out five standout moments in the history of this iconic event.
It’s perhaps my way of reminding myself of how illustrious this tournament was and what it could be again.
5. Nick Price wins at a canter – 1993
Sure, a 12-stroke victory doesn’t scream must-see TV. Still, Nick Price’s 1993 triumph at Gary Player Country Club must go down as one of the most memorable moments in the history of the event.
Firstly, the 12-stroke winning margin remains a record to this day (perhaps Scottie should give it a try). His 24-under-par final score was a tournament record at the time and appeared to be a lasting achievement.
I just think that former World No.1 Price is a bit of a forgotten man in golf, lost in the pre-Tiger shuffle of Norman, Faldo and late-Ballesteros.
He won numerous huge events (including three major championships) and should be more celebrated.
4. Ernie Els lowers Price – 1999
The Big Easy was South Africa’s biggest export since Gary Player and would go on to win four major championships. Els won the first of his three Nedbank Golf Challenges in 1999, beating Price’s course record by one stroke with rounds of 67, 66, 64 and 66.
One of only four men to win the event on three occasions, Els would also capture the title in 2000 and 2002.
But he was arguably at the peak of his career during this period (he just had the misfortune of existing in an era dominated by that guy on all those PlayStation games).
3. Not-so-humble beginnings- 1981
Johnny Miller beat Seve Ballesteros in the inaugural edition of this event, triumphing in a sudden-death playoff after Ballesteros three-putted (the pair had played the final three holes thrice before the Spaniard’s lapse).
One look at that roster tells you everything you need to know. The first edition of this event was a hyper-exclusive outing, with five of the world’s premier players in action (Player, Trevino and Nicklaus being the others).
It’s a good thing that the event expanded, but this opening put the tournament on the map, with Miller claiming a mouthwatering $500, 000 for winning it all (a ludicrous sum of money back then).
2. Sergio ends Els’s three-peat bid- 2001
Gary Player Country Club went under the knife ahead of the 2001 edition, with organisers looking to Els-proof it after the Big Easy shot 25-under-par en route to that 1999 title. After the redesign, then-tournament director Alastair Roper said, “there’s no way that we’ll see winning scores like 24-under and 25-under”.
He was right. Barely. Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia enjoyed a glorious battle in 2001, finishing the tournament level at 20-under par (so much for making it an exacting test).
Sergio played remarkable golf on that final day, shooting a final round of 63 before miraculously chipping in on the first playoff hole to deny Els his three-peat.
1. Tiger-mania thwarted by Bulawayo Buffalo- 1998
Ok, I’m pretty sure that Nick Price has never been known as the Bulawayo Buffalo (he was born in Durban before going on to compete for Zimbabwe).
But it has a nice ring to it. This must be the No.1 pick, with the old world meeting the new in a stunning bit of SA sporting iconography. The Nedbank organisers pulled off a real coup in 1998, managing to convince World No.1 Tiger Woods to come and compete in the Nedbank Golf Challenge (his one and only visit).
Tiger-mania was in full swing, resulting in an insane influx of people into Sun City. Tiger did not disappoint, showing all his legendary BMT to chip in on the 18th and force a playoff with Price.
Price would go on to win the tournament, matching David Frost’s record of three titles. But the real victor was the South African public, who got to see one of golf’s true geniuses doing genius things.
