Francesco Molinari is pumped up to make his comeback at the Nedbank Golf Challenge after a six-year hiatus. The Italian golfer, who recently served as a Vice Captain for Team Europe in their Ryder Cup victory, will be joining other golfing greats like Justin Rose, Justin Thomas, and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City. This prestigious event, with a prize money of $6,000,000, will also feature European Ryder Cup winners Robert MacIntyre and Nicolai Højgaard, as well as American star Max Homa. The tournament offers increased Race to Dubai Ranking Points and is one of the final events on the 2023 DP World Tour schedule before the season-ending DP World Tour Championship.
Molinari, the 2018 Open Champion, has previously participated in the Nedbank Golf Challenge twice. On his debut in 2013, he finished in a respectable tie for 12th place, and in 2017, he secured a tie for 27th. Now, he is eagerly looking forward to returning to South Africa for ‘Africa’s Major’.
According to Molinari, playing golf in South Africa is a unique experience. The stunning wildlife and the exceptional golf course make it unlike anywhere else in the world. He also expressed his honor to play in an event that bears the name of golfing legend Gary Player. Molinari can’t wait to tee it up in Sun City next month.
The 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge will see a gathering of top players from the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour. Rasmus Højgaard, a four-time DP World Tour winner, and Ockie Strydom, the 2022/23 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner with two victories on the 2023 Race to Dubai, are among the confirmed participants. The Nedbank Golf Challenge has been a prominent fixture on the South African sporting calendar since its inception in 1981. Past winners include golfing icons like Ernie Els, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman, and Danny Willett.
The 2023 Nedbank Golf Challenge, presented in partnership with Nedbank and Sun International, holds a significant place on the DP World Tour schedule. It serves as the penultimate event before the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Additionally, the winner of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit will earn a spot in the 66-player field at the Gary Player Country Club.