Johannesburg - As legendary South African golfer Gary Player gets ready to host the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City next month, other luminaries worldwide are staging similar events.
Many of these tournaments have charitable ambitions to raise funds for a variety of charities and foundations.
The winner of nine majors in an illustrious golfing career, Player also stages the Gary Player Invitational, which puts money into the kitty for disadvantaged communities.
Combat stigma
South African Ernie Els – a four-time Major champion and World Golf Hall of Fame member – stages the Els for Autism Golf Challenge.
Since its inaugural event in 2011, Els’ competition has grown year on year and has raised millions of rands.
The series has also raised awareness around autism spectrum disorder, and so helps to combat the stigma faced by those diagnosed with it.
Spaniard Sergio García, the winner of this year’s Masters tournament, will host the Andalucia Valderrama Masters at Real Club Valderrama in Spain from Thursday.
García’s foundation, established in 2002, contributes to the social inclusion of economically deprived youngsters through social assistance benefits.
Raise funds
Ireland’s Rory McIlroy hosts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open through his Rory Foundation.
The nonprofit trust helps a variety of charities around the world to uplift children and their families.
Golfing legend Tiger Woods hosts the AT&T National – also known as the Quickens Loans National – to raise funds for his own foundation.
Similar to the Rory Foundation, Woods assists a variety of charities around the world.