Rory McIlroy has confirmed that he will play in the 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge from 8-11 November at the Gary Player Country Club.
The former World No 1 will tee it up in Sun City, alongside 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, for the first time since 2009 after a strong start to the European Tour season with consecutive top-three finishes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, a tied fifth result at the Masters Tournament, and second place at the BMW PGA Championship in May.
The Northern Irishman has unfinished business in South Africa following his runner-up finish to Graeme Storm at the 2017 BMW SA Open hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni, with the crowd favourite set to return to a country he has always enjoyed both on and off the golf course.
‘I’m looking forward to going back to Sun City,’ said McIlroy. ‘I haven’t been there in a long time, so I’m excited about playing it.
‘I’ve always had a great time in South Africa whether it be playing golf tournaments, going on safari, or visiting some of the cities.’
The Nedbank Golf Challenge, hosted by Gary Player, is once again part of the Rolex Series – the premium category of tournaments on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai, with a prize fund of $7.5-million on offer at the event in South Africa – and will be a pivotal tournament in helping crown the Race to Dubai champion and European No 1 the following week.
‘I have been fortunate to win the Race to Dubai on three occasions and this year I want to give myself every chance of winning it for the fourth time,’ said McIlroy.
‘So the Nedbank Golf Challenge is a huge week on my schedule and the penultimate event before we battle it out for the Race to Dubai title.’
Host Gary Player was thrilled with the news.
‘I am thrilled that Rory McIlroy will be competing in Africa’s Major this year at the Gary Player Country Club in South Africa. Rory is a four-time Major winner and the crowds simply love rooting for him so no doubt his participation will bring even more energy to the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City. We are going to have a fantastic field and we are all very excited to watch the drama on the course unfold in November.’
