Field announced for Nedbank Golf Challenge

Ryer Cup stars Justin Rose and Lee Westwood will form part of the 12-man field for November's Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City, South Africa

A strong field including two of the world's top five has been announced for next month's $5m Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

Organisers have confirmed defending champion Lee Westwood and Justin Rose will participate in the event, staged at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City from November 29 - December 2.

Rose and Westwood - who also won the event in 2010 - will be joined in the field by five of their victorious Ryder Cup team mates: Paul Lawrie, Nicolas Colsaerts, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari.

"It was marvellous that the Ryder Cup happened at the right time for us," said tournament director Alastair Roper.

"It bodes well for a good tournament because it shows that the players are at the height of their game."

Bill Haas is the only American in the field, which also contains US-based Carl Pettersson and South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Garth Mulroy.

But this year's Open champion Ernie Els, a three-time winner of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, has declined a invite in order to spend time with his wife and children, who go to school in America.

"This time of year is a bit difficult for Ernie. He wants to spend time with his family and has decided to miss this year. We hope to see him back in the tournament again soon," said Roper.    

Last year, Westwood shot a course record-equaling 62 in the third round en route to victory and a cheque for £850,000.

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x