Two-time Masters champion Babe Watson will arrive in Sandton and debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honor of Gary Player from December 3 to 6. He becomes the fourth Major champion included in this year's African Major lineup, which is held at the renovated Gary Player Country Club.
The winner of the Masters in 2012 and 2014, as well as a former world number two, will join current US Open champion Wyndham Clark, along with former US Open champions Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Rose, forming one of the strongest lineups in recent Nedbank Golf Challenge history.
Watson intends to strengthen the significant American influence in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. The tournament began with Johnny Miller's victory in the first event in 1981 and includes champions such as Raymond Floyd, Corey Pavin, Jim Furyk, Max Homa, and more recently, Johannes Vermeer.
Watson noted that while traveling the world playing golf, South Africa is one of the places he always wants to return to. He emphasized that people there live for golf and sport, and the country has produced many outstanding players. He added: 'You can feel that passion every time you step onto the course.'
Furthermore, Watson expressed excitement about visiting the wildlife during his trip and looks forward to returning to the Nedbank Golf Challenge to see the fans again.
The South African tournament lineup was also strengthened by the participation of multiple DP World Tour winner Brendan Grace and PGA Tour winner Aldrich Potgieter.
Grace returns after being the last South African winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in 2017. He is a nine-time DP World Tour winner and holds the record for the lowest round in men's Major Championship history, scoring 62 at The Open in 2017.
Grace stated: 'I am proud to be a former African Major champion, and I am very happy to return to the Nedbank Golf Challenge in December.'
Potgieter will make his third appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge. He is the youngest winner in Korn Ferry Tour history and the youngest South African to win on the PGA Tour. The twenty-two-year-old athlete received his invitation for the first time in 2024 and came close to a rare debut victory, finishing second just one stroke behind American Johannes Vermeer after completing 54 holes.



