Christiaan Bezuidenhout is one of four South Africans who are hoping home support will carry them to victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

NEDBANK Golf Challenge debutant Christiaan Bezuidenhout is living the dream as he prepares to tee it up in “Africa’s Major” for the first time in his career, in the penultimate Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai.

The 25-year-old has had a break-out year on the European Tour in his second full season, with five top 10 finishes and a maiden victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters, in June.

In an event with a 39-year history, Bezuidenhout has fond memories of visiting Sun City to watch his heroes and is now looking forward to calling upon the home support when play gets under way today (Thursday).

Bezuidenhout, who overcame the stigma of having been banned for two years after taking a prohibited substance to help him cope with a stutter in 2014, is feeling a lot happier with his golf and life in general.

“It’s a dream come true. I’ve seen this event live since I was nine years old coming here, and here with my family.

“To be here now is a dream come true for me. Every year, this event is a big highlight for all the South Africans golfers and people that like the sport.

“Just to be thought of is a real honour and it should be a special week,” Bezuidenhout added.

“Every year you try to qualify for the final events, and yeah, I had a special year. Best year of my career so far, so for me, being here is a real bonus.

“To qualify for this event and to still be in the top 20 in the Race to Dubai – and to give myself a chance to reach my goals at the end of the year that I’ve set for myself, still in play – I’m looking forward to this week.”

One of nine South Africans in the field, Bezuidenhout is joined at Gary Player Country Club by another first-time winner in the 2019 season – Erik van Rooyen, the Scandinavian Invitation champion.

Van Rooyen is currently eighth on the Race to Dubai rankings after reaching the play-off at last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’m a little tired, body is a little sore,” said van Rooyen.

“It’s the end of the year, and especially an event like the Nedbank, it’s a fun event. So you kind of forget about it.

“The game is obviously in great shape. Pity about that one tee shot in the play-off last week, but that’s the nature of the game.

“Hats off to Tyrrell (Hatton). He obviously played really well. But my game is right where it needs to be, and it’s in a good place, especially with being home.

“I know this golf course really well. Got a lot of local support. It’s only looking up.

“It’s narrow. You can tell that Gary (Player) built the course, a lot of them slope left-to-right, so a draw would be preferable.

“It has really small greens. Probably some of the smallest greens we play all year. Ball-striking is a premium.

Of the host, van Royen said: “He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. He’s an icon in world golf, as you say, so to have his name attached to this, it’s wonderful.”

The pair are one half of four South Africans who have won European Tour titles this season, with Justin Harding and Louis Oosthuizen also teeing it up on home soil.

After taking last week off, Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick is feeling rested in his pursuit of becoming this year’s Race to Dubai winner.

Fitzpatrick, who was winning top amateur events like Hampshire’s Selborne Salver as a teenager just seven years ago, doesn’t feel it is a must win week, but admits he needs to win either this week or next if he is to beat the likes of Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to the crown.

“I wouldn’t say pressure to win. I would say pressure to contend,” said Fitzpatrick.

“I’m fourth on the Race to Dubai and there’s a chance to win the Race to Dubai still. It’s probably the closest I’ve been so far in my career to winning it.

“You know, two good weeks and you never know what happens. Obviously without winning either of them, the results have got to go heavily my way.

“But win one or both — win both, it will do. But certainly win one of them, it puts me right up there.

“I’ve not played as much this year. That’s one thing when Billy (Foster) came on the bag, that’s one thing he stressed.

“Looking at my schedule in years gone by, I was playing 30, 31, 32 events and this year I think I’m at 28 maybe. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it is.

It’s an extra week to work on the game. It’s an extra week of rest,” Fitzpatrick added.

“Even just a week is a big thing. I think that’s been a big difference this year just playing a little bit less and it’s made the difference.”

The 2016 Ryder Cup debutant has four runner-up finishes this season and sits fourth on the order of merit, just over 1,000 points behind current leader Bernd Wiesberger.

However, with 1,665 points on offer to the winner, and a first prize of S$2.5million – the highest in European Tour history before next week’s S$3million winner’s cheque at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai – competition is set to be fierce with just two events of the season remaining.

•For live scoring at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, click here.

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The former World No. 1 fired a stunning final round of 64 at Gary Player Country Club last year to finish three strokes ahead of Ryder Cup teammate Sergio Garcia.

It was good enough to ensure his return to the winner’s circle for the first time since the 2014 Maybank Championship, in Malaysia.

Westwood talking at Sun City – where the tournament is again hosted by Gary Player – said: “I always look forward to coming back to Sun City.

“It’s a brilliant resort and great golf course. Always done well around here and it brings back good feelings,” said Westwood who has played in 10 Ryder Cups since his debut in 1997, and played in more matches for Europe than any other player in its history.

“It’s nice to be back defending a tournament,” Westwood added.

“It’s tough to win these Rolex Series events and I managed to win this one last year. I’m excited about playing well again.

“I played well in Turkey last week, and excited to get back on the golf course this week,” said Lee, who finished in a share of 10th in last week’s Turkish Airlines Open.

“I’ve won four times around here – three Nedbanks and a Dimension Data,” said the 46-year-old, who has 43 wins around the world since 1996.

“I know the course well. I know where they put the flags. I read these greens pretty well, as well.

“Distance control with the elevation changes and the extremes in temperature all come into that.

“I have a pretty good game plan for the course and I know how to handle the variations in conditions.”

The Nottinghamshire ace became the first European to win the title three times following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

He joined South African legend Ernie Els and Zimbabwean Major winner Nick Price with that treble.

Westwood will start the week in Sun City in the company of Race to Dubai rankings leader Bernd Wiesberger and Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick, who currently occupies fourth place on the season-long standings.

Austrian Wiesberger has a lead of 387 points over Spaniard Jon Rahm with just two events left to play.

Rahm, winner of the Irish Open, in June – the third Rolex win of his career – has not played in an European Tour event since the Spanish Open over a month ago, which he also won.P

Wiesberger, who already has three wins in 2019, including two Rolex Series – said: “There are so many points to be had over the last events again, and a lot of things can happen.

“I’m just looking to be prepared as good as I can,” said the winner of the Scottish and Italian Opens.

“It’s getting a little bit tighter with some of my game that hasn’t been there the last two weeks.”

Thirty-four-year-old Wiesberger added: “Just look at the course – looking really forward to this week again.

“I’m not looking too much into the ranking and just controlling what I can control.”

Also teeing it up at the Nedbank Golf Challenge this week is 2017 Race to Dubai winner Tommy Fleetwood, who made his last appearance at this event that same year.

Fleetwood said: “It’s really nice to be back. I missed last year, the way scheduling worked out.

“Coming back, played it a few years now, and got such a great atmosphere, such a big event, it always has been.

“It continues to get bigger, really, and in terms of how important it is to the season, everything – and, coming down to the final couple of events, it’s special.

“The game wasn’t there in China, so we had to work on it. But I’ve done some good work last week. I feel a lot better.

“I feel a lot happier with where my swing is and where my head is. You know, always when you’re pushing for result, you feel like you should be doing better and you can be doing better.

“It’s difficult when you can’t quite get out of it what you want,” said 28-year-old Fleetwood, whose last win came in Abu Dhabi, in January 2018.

Fleetwood is joined by South African legend Els, who won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 1999, 2000 and 2002, before the event joined the European Tour’s schedule in 2013.

Els said: “I’m really pleased they gave they the invite. I was coming down to these parts already – I’m over 50 now, so I’m the oldest guy in the field. b

“I’ve had so many great memories around Sun City from fans and from the people I’ve met here, and obviously the golf course is very special to me,” said the winner of two Claret Jugs and two US Opens.

The winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge will receive 1,665 points on the Race to Dubai – and a cheque for S$2.5million.

Players will then battle for the largest first prize in tournament golf – S$3million – at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, next week.

•For tee times at Sun City click here.

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How The R&A and USGA have been explaining the new WHS programme.
Courtesy of The R&A and USGA

THE new World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched from January, the game’s governing bodies have confirmed – and will provide golfers with a “unified and more inclusive handicapping system” for the first time.

Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world throughout the year with Great Britain and Ireland set to join in between September and December 2020.

The staggered introduction will accommodate different implementation plans and variations in the golfing calendar across six controlling bodies.

A new video featuring Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player as well as ordinary club golfers has been produce to help explain the changes and encourage as many people to obtain one of the new handicaps.

The video can be seen here. There are also infographics and posters, which can be used by national associations and shared by golf clubs for the benefit of golfers all over the world.

Developed by The R&A and USGA in close co-ordination with existing handicapping authorities, the World Handicap System (WHS) will provide all golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability, with handicaps calculated in the same way wherever they are in the world, they believe.

A key objective of the initiative was to develop a modern system, enabling as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index.

Golfers will be able to transport their Handicap Index globally and compete or play a casual round with players from other regions on a fair basis.

It will also indicate the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving the next time they go out to play.

The following table lists the estimated implementation timeframes ina number of countries.

*Subject to change

The WHS has two main components – the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System.

The Rules of Handicapping are encompassed within seven rules to inform administrators and golfers on how an official handicap index is calculated and administered.

Some flexibility will be given to national associations based on how the sport is played and enjoyed in their region.

The Course Rating System, based on the USGA Course Rating System first adopted nearly 50 years ago – and already adopted on nearly every continent – sets out a consistent method of determining a course’s difficulty.

Together, those components become the foundation in determining a golfer’s Handicap Index.

One of the biggest anamolies in the UK comes when elite amateurs head to the USA on golf scholarships.

Their handicaps are effectively frozen while they are in the States because their scores do not count back home.

And with the number of home-based players with plus-handicaps growing each year, some find entering some of the UK’s leading amateur events – which are based on handicap rather than world rankings – more and more difficult.

And another consequence of that is some players will pick which events – or courses – they play to protect either their World Amateur Golf Ranking, or their handicap.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said, “The game of golf is transforming to meet the needs of the modern-day golfer.

“Modernising the rules this year was an important step forward in that regard and the World Handicap System will be another.

“Our hope is the launch of the WHS will be a catalyst for change – signalling the start of a new era of golfer engagement, being inclusive by embracing all golfers, whatever their level of ability, and broadening its appeal to a much wider audience.

“Change also means opportunity and, managed appropriately, this can only be good for the game.

“It does mean there will be a period of adjustment, as we saw with the new rules, but once it beds in golfers and golf clubs will benefit in many ways from the new system,” Mr Slumbers added.

“When the golf community works together, everyone benefits,” said USGA chief executive Mike Davis.

“We have seen the benefit handicapping has provided for decades, providing greater enjoyment for all who play.

“To have a single set of Rules of Handicapping for the game will connect golfers from country to country, and we are excited to bring the best of all worlds together through this initiative.

“It is one of the many ways we are investing in golf’s future, to strengthen and foster growth of the entire game for years to come.”

In preparation for the launch of the WHS, more than 3,000 golf courses have been rated for the first time.

An extensive education program has also been delivered on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as South America, Africa, Asia, and Australasia.

By the end of 2019, more than 90 national associations will have attended an educational seminar, and a robust library of resources is hosted online at WHS.com to support regional education.

Rules of Handicapping books are being produced and will be translated and delivered through national associations.

The materials produced to explain the system’s key features, include:–

• Flexibility in formats of play – allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes, ensuring a Handicap Index reflects demonstrated ability
• Minimal number of scores needed to obtain new handicap – 54 holes from any combination of 18 and nine-hole rounds (with some discretion for national or regional associations)
• Average-based calculation of a handicap – taken from best eight out of the last 20 scores, and factoring in memory of demonstrated ability for better responsiveness/control
• Calculation considering external factors – including impact of abnormal course and weather conditions on players’ performances each day
• Timely handicap revisions
• A limit of nett double bogey on maximum hole score – for handicapping purposes only
• Maximum handicap limit of 54.0 – regardless of gender which will encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game

Eight years of work to create golf’s WHS

THE formation of a World Handicap System was first conceived in 2011 between the USGA and The R&A in an effort to get more golfers involved in the game – and promote equity, no matter where golf is played. 

The new WHS unites six existing handicapping systems into one, while embracing the many ways the sport is played across cultures, say the organising bodies.

Beginning in 2020, the new WHS will be governed by The R&A and the USGA and administered by national and regional golf associations around the world.

The existing six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

They are:–
Golf Australia
Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) Great Britain and Ireland European Golf Association (EGA)
South African Golf Association (SAGA)
Argentine Golf Association (AAG)
The United States Golf Association (USGA)

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Branden Grace will compete for a first prize which has increased by $1m to $2.5m at next month’s Nedbank Challenge at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

HOME-favourite Branden Grace is excited to tee it up in the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player as Sun City and Gary Player Country Club celebrate their 40th anniversary, from November 14-17.

The South African delighted the home crowds with his eighth European Tour victory two years ago, finishing one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson.

Grace will be seeking a fourth victory on home soil this November – adding to his 2012 Joburg Open and 2015 Alfred Dunhill Championship victories when Sun City stages the seventh Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Set to tee it up in Africa’s Major for the sixth time, Grace can’t wait to return home to play golf for the final time in the 2019 season.

“Sun City and Gary Player Country Club is such an iconic venue for South African golfers,” said Grace, who became the first native golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge since Trevor Immelman 10 years earlier.

“This is an event steeped in history, and to win two years ago was very special.

“I have a lot of happy memories from playing there – it’s a demanding, but fair test.

“The work the team did in constructing and maintaining the golf course all those years ago is astonishing, and it is certainly one of the best courses we play all year.

“I can’t wait to play in front of a home crowd again and I’m hoping for another good week as we celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.”

Tournament host Gary Player said: “It’s wonderful to have Branden back at Sun City. Who can forget his 50-foot putt on the 16th hole in the final round in 2017 which was in my opinion his finest moment of that final round.

“It gave him a one-stroke lead and he carried it on to his first Rolex Series victory. There was immense pressure to end a decade-long drought of South African winners and Branden responded like a true champion.”

Nedbank Group chief executive Mike Brown said: “Former champions are an integral part of the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and they add tremendously to the quality of the field.

“We’re delighted to have Branden back with us as our last South African winner of ‘Africa’s Major’.”

Sun International chief executive Anthony Leeming said: “To have our last two champions competing again this year – Nottinghamshire’s Lee Westwood and Branden Grace – is another wonderful endorsement of the quality of our field.

“Branden’s victory in 2017 was the first by a South African since Trevor Immelman in 2007.

“In what is such a significant year for Sun City and the Gary Player Country Club and our 40th celebrations, we’re delighted to have the last South African winner in our field again.”

Grace joins compatriot and Major winner Louis Oosthuizen in a field which also includes Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood – the latter returns to defend his first Rolex Series title.

Westwood’s three-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia last year saw him become the first European golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge three times, following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge will enhance its status as one of world golf’s elite tournaments this season with an increase in both the first place prize money and Race to Dubai points.

The winner of the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge will take home $2.5million, a big increase on the $1.25million won by Westwood last year.

The overall prize fund remains at $7.5million, with the balance of the 63-player field from second place onwards playing for a $5million prize fund.

This year’s tournament also offers an increased haul of Race to Dubai points from 7,500 to 10,000, which places it above what the World Golf Championships tournaments offer.

•General access tickets and luxury return shuttles for the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player can be bought by clicking here.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, Circa has once again put together hospitality packages for the event, which can be purchased by clikcing here.

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he majestic Sunningdale clubhouse where the 2020 Senior Open will be hosted the Staysure European Tour has announced. Picture by KEVIN DISS

SUNNINGDALE Golf Club will host The Senior Open for the third time when Europe’s only Senior Major Championship returns in 2020.

The Old Course at Sunningdale first hosted The Senior Open in 2009, when America’s Loren Roberts defeated compatriot Fred Funk and Ireland’s Mark McNulty in a play-off.

Another American, Marco Dawson, was triumphant when the Senior Major returned in 2015, finishing one stroke ahead of Bernhard Langer.

In addition to two Senior Opens, Sunningdale has also hosted the British Masters, the European Open, The Seve Trophy, The Walker Cup, AIG Women’s British Open and has been a qualifying venue for The Open.

The R&A’s executive director of championships Johnnie Cole-Hamilton said: “The Senior Open continues to grow in stature and Sunningdale will be an outstanding venue for the 2020 championship.

“The top senior players in the world will relish the challenge presented by the Old Course and we can look forward to an excellent week of world-class golf.”

The European Tour’s Staysure chief David MacLaren said: “We are very pleased to announce The Senior Open’s return to the incredible Old Course at Sunningdale.

“The Senior Open offers us the unique opportunity to visit both traditional Open-rota venues and other world-class golf courses in the British Isles.

“Sunningdale is consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world, not just the United Kingdom, and we are all looking forward to returning next year.”

Among those who will be eligible to compete in their first Senior Opens are five-time Major Champion Phil Mickelson, 2003 US Open champion and 2018 USA Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir.

Nick Howe, chairman of Sunningdale’s tournament committee, said: ‘’We are delighted The Senior Open is returning to Sunningdale in 2020.

“It is the third time we will have held this prestigious event and we are very much looking forward to hosting the best senior golfers in the world and seeing how they navigate the challenges of The Old Course, now ranked the No. 1 course in England.’’

About The Senior Open

The Senior Open Presented by Rolex will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the first time since 1994 when the 33^rd edition of the Championship is staged from July 25-28.

Royal Lytham & St Annes hosted The Senior Open for four consecutive years from 1991-4.

Bobby Verwey, John Fourie, Bob Charles and Tom Wargo were the winners of Europe’s only Senior Major Championship on the Lancashire links during this time.

Royal Lytham & St Annes has hosted The Open on 11 occasions and hosted the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2018.

Miguel Ángel Jiménez became the third consecutive European winner of The Senior Open after his one-stroke victory over defending champion Bernhard Langer on the Old Course at St Andrews in 2018.

Paul Broadhurst started the run of European victories at Carnoustie in 2016.

In 2017, Langer became the first golfer in history to win 10 Senior Major Championships, as he joined Gary Player and Tom Watson as the only three-time winners of the Senior Open Trophy with his victory at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales.

The Senior Open was introduced in 1987 at Turnberry in Ayrshire when Neil Coles, the former chairman of the board of directors of the PGA European Tour, won the inaugural title.

This led, two years later, to the formal inception of the European Senior Tour. In 2018, the Senior Tour was rebranded with Staysure becoming the first title sponsor of what is now known as the Staysure Tour.

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