Harrington adds Major weight to Nedbank field

Padraig Harrington has accepted an invitation to play in next week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, hosted by Gary Player, with the Irishman adding to a field laced with Major winners, former world number ones and past Nedbank Golf Challenge champions.

Harrington is the latest to confirm his place in the penultimate tournament of the season and the seventh event on the Rolex Series – the European Tour’s premium category of eight tournaments on the Race to Dubai.

Harrington returns to Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club from 9-12 November having won his 15^th European Tour title in last year’s Portugal Masters.

“I’m delighted to be returning to Sun City and the Nedbank Golf Challenge where I have some great memories,” said Harrington, who recorded one of the lowest rounds in the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge when he shot 61 in the third round in 2001.

“My game is in good shape and I’m looking forward to finishing off the season on a strong note.  There is always a strong field for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which tends to bring out the best in your game, and the golf course is one I particularly enjoy.”

Harrington joins a group of five Major winners in the field for the $7.5 million tournament.

The winner of the 2007 and 2008 Open Championships and the 2008 US PGA Championship is joined by Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open Championship), Henrik Stenson (2016 Open Championship), Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters) and Martin Kaymer (2010 US PGA Championship and 2014 US Open).

The current field also includes two former world number ones in Kaymer and Lee Westwood.

And both Kaymer and Westwood make for five previous Nedbank Golf Challenge champions headed to Sun City, alongside Stenson, Thomas Bjørn and defending champion Alex Noren.

The field also includes the current leader of the Race to Dubai rankings presented by Rolex, Tommy Fleetwood, as well as a further five players within the top 10 on the Race to Dubai in Tyrrell Hatton (5^th), Ross Fisher (6^th), Rafa Cabrera Bello (7^th), Noren (8^th) and Francesco Molinari (9^th).