Publications
Partners
Cape Town - The 30th anniversary of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, which will be played at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club from December 2-5, 2010, will offer 12 of the world’s top golfers an increased purse of $5 million to play for, and the champion of Africa’s richest golf tournament will now earn $1 250 000.
According to the tournament's official website, the Nedbank Challenge now boasts a bigger first prize than the average professional tournament on the PGA Tour or those played on the European Tour.
“To put this amount into perspective, only the Major Championships and World Golf Championship events have a larger first prize, and then only marginally,” says Tournament Director Alastair Roper. The Masters, the US Open and PGA Championship are worth $1 350 000 to the winner, and the British Open champion earns $1 305 000.
When the first Nedbank Golf Challenge was played in 1981, the total purse of $1 million was a record amount for any golf tournament, and the winner’s share of $500 000 far exceeded the first prize available in golf’s majors. In 1987 the event became the first to offer $1 million to the winner, and in 2000 the $2 million first prize was also a world record.
After three years it was decided to reduce the winner’s share of the purse, but to increase the amounts paid to players that finish further down the leaderboard.
“After consultation with the players, it was decided that a more equitable money breakdown was needed,” says Roper.
“Despite the global recession we have seen a steady growth in not only prize money on the world’s professional Tours, but also in the number of events scheduled during the off-season. We are proud to have been able to keep pace with the increased money available to the world’s top golfers, and we are confident that with this added incentive, the Nedbank Golf Challenge will again attract a field of the highest calibre for what is a special anniversary year,” he says.
With an additional amount of $615 000 being added to the total purse this year, the player finishing runner-up will earn $660 000 and 12th place in the 12-man field will be worth $250 000.
The 12-man field will be confirmed on Thursday.
Prize money breakdown:
1st - $1 250 000
2nd - $660 000
3rd - $450 000
4th - $350 000
5th - $330 000
6th - $310 000
7th - $300 000
8th - $290 000
9th - $280 000
10th - $270 000
11th - $260 000
12th - $250 000
According to the tournament's official website, the Nedbank Challenge now boasts a bigger first prize than the average professional tournament on the PGA Tour or those played on the European Tour.
“To put this amount into perspective, only the Major Championships and World Golf Championship events have a larger first prize, and then only marginally,” says Tournament Director Alastair Roper. The Masters, the US Open and PGA Championship are worth $1 350 000 to the winner, and the British Open champion earns $1 305 000.
When the first Nedbank Golf Challenge was played in 1981, the total purse of $1 million was a record amount for any golf tournament, and the winner’s share of $500 000 far exceeded the first prize available in golf’s majors. In 1987 the event became the first to offer $1 million to the winner, and in 2000 the $2 million first prize was also a world record.
After three years it was decided to reduce the winner’s share of the purse, but to increase the amounts paid to players that finish further down the leaderboard.
“After consultation with the players, it was decided that a more equitable money breakdown was needed,” says Roper.
“Despite the global recession we have seen a steady growth in not only prize money on the world’s professional Tours, but also in the number of events scheduled during the off-season. We are proud to have been able to keep pace with the increased money available to the world’s top golfers, and we are confident that with this added incentive, the Nedbank Golf Challenge will again attract a field of the highest calibre for what is a special anniversary year,” he says.
With an additional amount of $615 000 being added to the total purse this year, the player finishing runner-up will earn $660 000 and 12th place in the 12-man field will be worth $250 000.
The 12-man field will be confirmed on Thursday.
Prize money breakdown:
1st - $1 250 000
2nd - $660 000
3rd - $450 000
4th - $350 000
5th - $330 000
6th - $310 000
7th - $300 000
8th - $290 000
9th - $280 000
10th - $270 000
11th - $260 000
12th - $250 000
