Gary Player has a great affection for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and he would like to see another legend, Tiger Woods, make a comeback to Africa’s major tournament.
Tiger Woods is being urged by Gary Player to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which is referred to as “Africa’s major” in the sport.
Competitors compete in the tournament at the Sun City Country Club, which bears Player’s name and is dedicated to the nine-time major champion. In 1981, the 88-year-old participated in the first-ever DP World Tour event, which had a field of only five players.
Given Player’s lengthy association with the South African competition, the DP World Tour declared earlier this year that the Needbank Golf Challenge will be formally named in his honor starting in 2024.
The 2023 competition is presently taking place in Sun City, and Player offered his analysis of the action during Thursday’s first round from the Sky Sports commentary box. The South African directed the conversation toward Woods, who is regarded as golf’s greatest player, during his time as a commentator.
During the coverage, Player remarked, “We’ve got to get Tiger Woods back here somehow.” “[His presence] would raise the bar for this competition. We had the privilege of paying tribute to his brilliant young golfer son, Charlie Sifford.”
Woods has not featured at the event since 1998, under its former name Nedbank Million Dollar Golf Tournament. Playing in his prime, the American almost marked his one-and-only appearance with victory, but was defeated in a dramatic five-hole play-off by Zimbabwe’s Nick Price.
Over the past two years, the future of the 15-time major champion has been uncertain due to a series of injury problems that resulted from an automobile accident in Los Angeles in February 2021. His most recent setback occurred in April at the Masters Tournament this year, when an ankle problem forced him to withdraw in the third round.
Following surgery to treat the injury sustained at Augusta, Woods has been on the mend ever since. The 15-time major winner has been spotted on the golf course several times in recent weeks, which has led to rumors that he may be making a comeback to the PGA Tour.
Amid the rumours, Woods broke his silence earlier this week, announcing he had recovered from his ankle injury but problems within his right leg still remain. “My ankle is fine,” he admitted. “Where they fused my ankle, I have absolutely zero issue whatsoever.
“That pain is completely gone. It’s the other areas that have been compensated for. But all the surrounding areas are where I had all my problems and still do. You fix one, others have to become more hypermobile to get around it, and it can lead to some issues.”
While not competing, Woods has been getting ready to introduce TGL, a cutting-edge golf league that he and Rory McIlroy founded. The stadium circuit will begin play in less than two months, and Woods has confirmed that he will compete in January, albeit in a simulator, following his announcement as a member of the Jupiter Links team.
“TGL is a modern twist on traditional golf and will ultimately make the sport I love more accessible,” the 47-year-old said, citing its technological integration. “It’s an exciting new chapter for me to have the chance to own a team and compete on behalf of Jupiter. My hometown’s golf culture will be on display at Jupiter Links GC as we compete against the world’s best players.
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