The DP World Tour kicks off a fortnight of competition in South Africa, while the African Majors continue at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Here are five things you need to know.
Nedbank returns
The Nedbank Golf Challenge returns as a Tour event for the tenth time after not appearing on the 2024 DP World Tour international calendar. Johnny Miller defeated Seve Ballesteros to host the first Million Dollar Challenge in 1981, which has since grown to become one of the DP World Tour's most prestigious events. Ballesteros won the event twice, and other major champions Raymond Floyd, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnan, Nick Price, Nick Fedor Jazz, Corey Pavin, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Trevor Immelman, Henrik Stenson , Martin Kaymer and Danny Willett join him and Miller on the honor roll. The event, held in memory of the great Gary Player at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa, kicks off two weeks of competition in South Africa ahead of next week's Alfred Dunhill Championship. , and then the opening match of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will also end.
Battle of Houma
Max Homa, who won his first DP World Tour title in this event 13 months ago, will return to Sun City this week to defend his title. The six-time PGA Tour champion became the fifth American to lift the trophy in 2023, beating off challenges from Nikolaj Hojgaard and Thorbjorn Olsen to comfortably finish by four strokes win. He was at least tied for the lead in each of the first three rounds, and although he only had a one-shot advantage on Sunday, a final 66 left him at 19 under. “It's great to be able to travel to a new place and meet so many amazing people and the fans are amazing,” he said. “Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. To be able to win a trophy was just the icing on the cake.”
Elite arena gathers in Sun City
The event is not called Africa’s Grand Slam for nothing and an elite line-up of DP World Tour, PGA Tour and Dual Members will be taking part in the event at Sun City with premium invitations. Houma will be joined by PGA Tour champions Will Zalatoris, Corey Connors, Mackenzie Hughes and Eric Van Rooyen, as well as 48 other DP World Tour champions. Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, is also in Abu Dhabi alongside 2024 Rolex Series champion Paul Waring, who is one of seven players to earn dual 2025 membership through last season's Race to Dubai one. Add in rising stars Ryan VanVilsen, Robin Williams, Aldrich Portergate and Ding Wenyi, and we're in for a great matchup.
Home hero hopes to get crowds excited
While 2024 Sunshine Tour money winner Van Velzen, 2022 Amateur champion Potgeiter and rising star Williams may have gained renown in their home countries, This week, they were joined by a host of big-name celebrities. Thriston Lawrence competes in the 2024 DP World Tour Championship with a chance to win the Harry Vardon Trophy and will join forces with Van Rooyen and Bayern after earning dual membership through the Race to Dubai Bezuidenhout will join the PGA TOUR next season. Dylan Fritteli returns to the winner's circle in 2024, his first appearance in the event since 2018, with two-time champion Ockie Strydom and Bu… He is joined by Brandon Stone who, like Frittelli, is looking for his first in six years.
Breakout duo hungry for more
They may be named after the greatest rock musicians and characters in Hollywood blockbusters, but you'd be forgiven if you'd never heard of Elvis Smiley and Regus Johnston two weeks ago Original. Now, having both won one of Australia's top events to gain full qualification for the DP World Tour, they find themselves among the stars at Sun City. Smalley followed up his win at the BMW Australian PGA Championship with a top-10 finish at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, with Q-school graduate Johnston winning in just his second DP World Tour start. The pair have enjoyed a fantastic start to their season, but there's a good chance they'll piss off more people this week.
