For a tournament routinely referred to as “Africa’s Major” and back in the 1980s called “as South African as braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet”, the Nedbank Golf Challenge continues to make its mark.

Now into its 42nd staging, after beginning as an invitation-only five-man Million Dollar Challenge in 1981 with Johnny Miller banking the $500 000 winner’s cheque – the rand was stronger than the US dollar and that first prize was worth R440 000 at the time – it has evolved into a high-quality, DP World Tour event with a field of 66 and a total prize of $6-million. But, it’s about more than the money, it really is.

The Gary Player Country Club course is a tough one for mere golfing mortals, but even when set up from the back tees in the North West province bush, only once in the last 16 tournaments has the winner’s score been lower than 11 under par. Such is the quality of play.

The defending champion is Max Homa, whose four-stroke win over Denmark’s Nicolaai Højgaard in 2023 marked the sixth time the champion had come from the US, with the previous being Jim Furyk in 2006, when the event still had a field of 12 men and was by invitation only.

Americans have tended to skip Africa’s Major, but 2023 brought the appearances of Ryder Cup stars Homa and Justin Thomas, to add a rare bit of stardust to the US challenge. Previously, the four best finishes by an American since 2010 were Bill Haas (third in 2012), Robert Streb (fourth in 2015) and Ryan Moore (seventh in 2013).

Homa will return to defend his title, bringing his family with him after calling the 2023 experience “one of the best weeks of my golfing career”. Much of that is related to the sights and surrounds of the area, where you can see the Big Five, listen to around 350 bird specials (over to you, Tony Johnstone) and enjoy appreciative hospitality that makes the event feel like something different. Like Africa’s Major perhaps?

Given that we’re on the subject of the bush and wildlife, we need to talk about the elephant in the room, so to speak.

Where are the South African names on that famous crystal trophy? They are there, and include Major champions like Ernie Els (2002, 2000 and 1999), Retief Goosen (2004) and Trevor Immelman (2007), and even David Frost (1992, 1990 and 1989) and Branden Grace. However, we need to go back seven years to 2017 when Grace was the last South African to lift the trophy on the famous 18th green.

Actually, it was when he drained a 50-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole that the tournament tilted in his favour. He arrived at the 18th with a one-shot lead over Scott Jamieson and a par was enough to break a South African winner’s drought that had stretched back 10 years to when Immelman triumphed in 2007.

Facing the media afterwards, Grace cut an emotional figure. “This is the one event that as a South African you want to win. It’s Africa’s Major for a reason and what a special place it is. There’s a lot of history and great winners on the trophy and I’m very glad to be able to put my name on it too.”

You don’t even have to be a South African to understand what winning the Nedbank Golf Challenge means. Tommy Fleetwood was in tears after winning a playoff in 2019 over Sweden’s Marcus Kinhult. The popular Englishman was in tears again after his 2022 win.

Gone are the days when players used to come for the party. In 1991 John Daly and Steve Elkington stripped off their shirts to sing “Wild Thing” at a party after that Saturday’s third round. Daly was spotted at 2am on the Sunday being escorted to his room. He shot six over par a few hours later, playing the quickest 18 holes ever seen on the demanding course. “Jet-lag,” he offered as an excuse.

Now it’s all about the prestige. Players know what it means to have their name on that trophy. Especially South Africans. One of the more difficult phone calls I’ve had to make was in November 2016. Louis Oosthuizen was in the last pairing, but shot 75 and Alex Noren, with a 63, surged past. Oosthuizen was composing himself in his room when I had to call him – as playing editor for a monthly golf magazine, his column was printing the following morning.

In 2018 Oosthuizen was again in contention heading into the final round. However, a closing 69 left him in third behind Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia. As media, we had to wait a while for Westwood, another multi-champion Englishman, to gather himself. “I’m a bit emotional. You’re never sure whether you’re going to be able to do it again. Until now my emotions felt really under control.”

In 2019 Oosthiuzen was back in contention. An opening 63 had set him up nicely and after 54 holes he was second. Another final round of 75 extinguished that charge. That year Zander Lombard led with 18 holes to go. He too faltered, with a closing 77. The reality tends to sink in on that Sunday.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge “hits differently”. It has proved that it doesn’t need a star-studded American cast to add gravitas. The players know what it means. Now, can the next South African winner step forward – and feel the love.

NOTABLE NAMES

Robin Williams and Aldrich Potgieter, two of South African golf’s brightest young stars, will test themselves against a strong international field. The 23-year-old Williams, who was given a personal invitation to compete by Gary Player in whose honour the Nedbank Golf Challenge is played, and 20-year-old Potgieter will form part of a showcase of Sunshine Tour talent on the fairways of the Gary Player Country Club.

They join Thriston Lawrence, Ryan van Velzen, Christo Lamprecht, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik van Rooyen as among the South Africans already confirmed for “Africa’s Major” (as at 4 November).

The South Africans will go up against defending champion and six-time PGA Tour winner Max Homa, as well as fellow PGA Tour champions Will Zalatoris and Corey Conners, DP World Tour stars Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard, and victorious European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald.

IMAGES: GRANT LEVERSHA/TYRONE WINFIELD/SHUAN ROY/SUNSHINE TOUR/GETTY IMAGES/CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/BACKPAGEPIX