Nedbank Golf Challenge: Top 10 power rankings at Gary Player CC

1 of 11

The Race to Dubai Final Series is on its second of three legs this week with the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa

A week after the PGA Tour was in Sin City, the European Tour finds itself in Sun City.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge is the second of three Race to Dubai Final Series events. We’re at Gary Player CC in Sun City, Africa, for the 38th edition of an event that’s transformed over the years.

More from Pro Golf Now

The inaugural edition in 1981 featured just five golfers, but a was a fearsome fivesome of Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros, Johnny Miller and Lee Trevino.

The event was long a very exclusive event with field sizes that slowly crept up through the years. World rankings first went to this event in 2006. Before becoming a Final Series event, the field size had grown to 30 players.

Now in its current form, 72 players are in the field. That includes the top 64 in the Race to Dubai, the defending champion if not otherwise exempted, the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner and tournament invitations.

Some of Europe’s top stars are here for this no-cut, guaranteed money event. Others are sitting this one out with their spot in next week’s final event locked up.

Gary Player CC is a long par-72 parkland course that can stretch to 7,831 yards. The kikuya fairways (think Riviera, Torrey Pines, Chapultepec) are narrow but should be playing fast.

Three of the last five Nedbank winners led the field in scrambling. Birdies will still be need to be made, too, though: the average winning score is 16-under over the last five years.

Warm temperatures, no rain and light winds are in the early forecast.

Some players may just be ready to go into hibernation, but there is a lot of cash to entice players to gun for the top 10 bonus pool at the end of the Final Series next week in Dubai.

Here are my 10 with the best chance to win in South Africa:

Home/Golf Power Rankings