Tommy Fleetwood is aiming to hitch a prestigious group of gamers as he bids to assert a 3rd successive Nedbank Golf Problem title in Solar Metropolis this week.
The Englishman first triumphed at Gary Participant Nation Membership in 2019 earlier than occurring to defend his title in emotional vogue final 12 months to increase his enviable document in ‘Africa’s Main’ and returns this 12 months with a chunk of historical past in his sights.
The 32-year-old now has the chance to hitch Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo in an illustrious group of gamers to win the identical occasion thrice in a row on the DP World Tour.
Fleetwood must overcome a powerful area within the penultimate occasion on the 2023 Race to Dubai if he’s to emerge victorious, with an array of Main Champions, Ryder Cup gamers and DP World Tour winners teeing it up in South Africa.
Englishman Justin Rose, who was born in Johannesburg, returns to the Nedbank Golf Problem for the primary time in ten years and he can be joined by fellow Staff Europe stars Nicolai Højgaard and Robert MacIntyre.
American duo Max Homa, the World Quantity Eight, and two-time Main winner Justin Thomas are teeing it up in South Africa for the primary time of their careers and can look to turn out to be the primary participant from the US to win Africa’s Main since Jim Furyk’s pair of victories in 2005 and 2006.
The Nedbank Golf Problem carries an elevated variety of Race to Dubai Rating Factors because the climax of the 2023 season rapidly approaches, with subsequent week’s DP World Tour Championship containing the highest 50 out there gamers on the Race to Dubai.
Poland’s Adrian Meronk and New Zealander Ryan Fox, who at present lie third and fourth respectively on the Race to Dubai, are main the battle for one of many ten PGA TOUR playing cards on supply for the 2024 season.
Participant quotes
Tommy Fleetwood: “It’s all the time good while you come again to someplace the place you’ve recollections of getting on holes and also you see good pictures.
“You by no means actually really feel actually comfy on this course. However I assume while you’ve performed properly, you’re going to really feel as comfy as potential and having the expertise coming down the stretch and profitable may be very, essential and good to have. We’ll see. However it’s good.
“Ever for the reason that first time I got here, it’s bought a really particular feeling to it driving into the gates of Solar Metropolis and it’s such a historic occasion for lots of us.
“For my technology I assume, and for individuals older and youthful too, however I keep in mind it because the Million Greenback Problem and all the things. It’s all the time had such a excessive worth. And but to be going for a 3rd win appears fairly surreal, however we’ll see what we are able to do.”
Max Homa: “The entire week has been superb. There was a whole lot of kindness and a whole lot of smiles. Everybody has been very welcoming. Individuals are saying thanks for coming to South Africa. I by no means thought that may be a typical sentiment. Everyone seems to be tremendous excited for the golf match and it’s enjoyable to be part of that.
“The safari is life altering. I don’t know the way I’m supposed to clarify this to my family and friends. I’d by no means do it justice. A operating joke between Justin and I is that if I used to be a information it will be all made up and simply tremendously horrible. Nevertheless it’s simply so cool to spend a while away from the golf course and expertise form of what the world has to supply.
“After I was rising up, I watched this match and tons of DP World Tour occasions that I all the time wished to play in. With the earlier PGA TOUR schedule it will be wild to attempt to do that. You would need to battle jetlag from match to match. However now with an actual low season for us, I made it a degree to play at the least one over right here. To have the ability to get a spot right here and play has been a dream. Going ahead, with the ability to do extra of this may be a precedence since you need to expertise what golf at massive has to supply and this has been a fairly particular week up to now.”
Justin Thomas: “It’s a world recreation and a few of us are very lucky to be ready the place we need to proceed to attempt to develop it. If we are able to come right here and encourage, whether or not it’s a few youngsters or a few adults, no matter it’s, that’s a profitable journey, and we’re lucky to play in an incredible match on an incredible golf course in an incredible area whereas we’re doing it.
“I all the time have expectations of taking part in properly however I additionally totally perceive this has been removed from regular preparation for a golf match, however that doesn’t imply I’m not taking it severely. Yesterday wasn’t precisely what I wished with the climate however made essentially the most of it and as we speak was an attractive day. Greater than something, touring this far you simply need to get your physique feeling good and attempt to really feel such as you’re rested and get on the market and hopefully see if I can get in a rhythm and get issues going. Like something you simply must salvage the perfect you possibly can and see if you may make your approach into competition.”
Adrian Meronk: “It’s nice to be right here. It’s like a reward for us for season. It’s solely 60 guys so it’s all the time good to play these occasions on the finish of the 12 months, so I’m excited to get going. The course seems implausible, the climate goes to be nice, so I’m positive it’ll be a enjoyable week.
“It’s a tough course to be sincere. You need to get used to the grass and the altitude and the warmth as properly. The greens are difficult so the extra rounds you play right here, the better it will get. It’s not simple however I feel the expertise pays off right here. Hopefully, this 12 months, I can enhance on my consequence from final time.
“I’m in all probability going to do some extra safari journeys later this week. It’s superb coming to locations like this with the ability to do issues like that. You’re not likely capable of do it wherever else so at any time when I come to Africa I attempt to do at the least one safari. You possibly can see the monkeys in all places, it’s an uncommon surroundings for us.
“It relaxes you, you are able to do different issues. Solar Metropolis has a whole lot of issues to supply, so it’s all the time enjoyable to return right here. Everybody brings their households, girlfriends, youngsters, it’s a enjoyable week for everybody.”
Justin Rose: “I can not imagine it’s been ten years. Time does fly however coming again right here, all the things does really feel so acquainted nonetheless. It’s a really iconic, particular place. I used to be clearly born in South Africa so it’s a rustic with one thing particular for me. It hits slightly totally different. It’s a magical spot and I’m simply totally having fun with it.
“I feel they simply do a extremely good job. All of us just like the golf course, it performs rather well. It’s fairly a tricky golf course, provides good shot making, so I feel all of us really feel like we’re right here to play golf and the check in entrance of us is Championship worthy. Then we get off the golf course and you’re feeling such as you’re on vacation, so there’s a pleasant combine to the week. We’re coming to the top of the season and it’s the proper place to return and go to. There’s loads driving on the golf clearly, coming to the true enterprise finish of issues on the DP World Tour however on the identical time, everybody’s had a protracted 12 months and you’ll find a few hours to your self right here the place you possibly can actually recharge your batteries, which is nice.”
