This is the part of the golfing year which Ernie Els once euphemistically labelled as "wheelbarrow time" for the hugely obscene amounts of greenbacks players could walk away with from tournaments.
Yet, the decision to add the Nedbank Challenge as an official tournament on the European Tour schedule means there is more than money on the line when it takes place in Sun City, starting on Thursday.
The Nedbank Challenge has a limited field of 30 players – one of them being Shane Lowry who is seeking to strengthen his place within the world's top-50 before closing out his year's work – but the real carrot is that the title is worth €998,051 to the winner and, critically, a headstart on everyone else in the 2015 order of merit.
The last two places in the field have been taken by South African Jacos Ahlers, following his victory in the Cape Town Open on the Sunshine Tour on Sunday, and by American Brendan Todd – ranked 51st in the world – who has replaced the injured Victor Dubuisson.
Lowry, ranked 47th in the world and on a personal high after announcing his engagement over the weekend, makes his debut in Sun City after a career-best season which, despite no wins, saw him finish 10th on the final Race to Dubai standings. That placing on the order of merit earned him his ticket to the big-money event in the jungle.
Top off
“I never really go to a tournament thinking about winning, but it’s the only thing this year that has been missing . . . a win would top off the year superbly and kickstart my 2015 campaign as well,” said the 27-year-old Offalyman, who can improve his world rankings even further in a tournament with no cut.
The Nedbank has been played every year since 1981 but only became part of the European Tour schedule last year, when Thomas Bjorn won.
In contrast, the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge – which takes place at Isleworth in Florida – doesn’t form any part of the PGA Tour in the USA but does offer a top prize of $1 million and, over the years, has benefitted the Tiger Woods Foundation to the tune of $25 million in money raised.
Graeme McDowell is among the elite-18 man field competing in Florida, where Woods is making his return to competition for the first time since the PGA championship in August.
There was a time when Pádraig Harrington – a three-time Major champion – would have been among the top of the list for either Sun City or Tiger's tournament. This week, though, the Dubliner is one of the main draws in the Indonesian Open on the Asian Turner where he is playing on a sponsor's invite. Corkman Niall Turner is also in the field, also playing on a sponsor's invite.
Clubs away
Rory McIlroy’s appearance in the Australian Open completed his season’s schedule. The world number one is in the USA where he has some corporate commitments with Nike to fulfil as well as a number of fundraising events for his The Rory Foundation.
“I’m just looking forward to putting the clubs away for a little bit and I’m sure over the Christmas and New Year period I’ll reflect on what a great season it has been,” said McIlroy, whose wins in the British Open and US PGA this year brought his Major haul to four.
