Sport

Women's boost for Player Invitational

30 October 2009

The Gary Player Invitational, taking place at The Links at Fancourt from 26 to 29 November, will include a number of women who will be sure to add spice, style and no small measure of golfing ability to South Africa's premier charity golf event.

Spanish supermodel and actress Inés Sastre, LPGA Tour player Sandra Gal, rising European Ladies Tour star Henrietta Zuel, and BBC Sports presenter Sarah Stirk have all confirmed their participation.

The tenth anniversary of South Africa's premier charity golf event features a star-studded field of professional golfers, celebrities and businessmen, who compete in a 36-hole Fourball Alliance competition, while the professionals concurrently compete in a separate 36-hole Betterball medal competition.

Sastre is no stranger to golf in South Africa. The Unicef ambassador brings to Fancourt a touch of glamour gleaned from a successful career of acting and featuring on magazine covers.

Famous face

She featured in her first commercial at the age of 12 and soon became one of the most sought-after faces for magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and GQ, as well as the face for Chanel, Michel Klein, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Fendi and Lancôme.

Behind her beauty lies the intelligence of a woman that speaks four languages, has a degree in French literature, and has twice been in the winning team of the Fourball Alliance competition, first in 2004 and then in 2008, when she partnered with Retief Goosen, Costantino Rocca and business man Alan Pearson.

Meanhwile, it will be a first visit to South Africa and the Gary Player Invitational for television presenter and journalist Stirk and professional players Gal and Zuel.

BBC presenter

Stirk, a six-handicapper, began her career working for Manchester United TV. She moved to the BBC, but then spent two years covering the PGA Tour for Setanta Sports before returning to the BBC this year to present sports bulletins on the BBC News Channel and BBC World.

She also writes for various publications, including Golf International and A place in the Sun, and runs Xclusive Golf Ltd, a company offering tailor-made golfing experiences around the world.

"I haven't played nearly enough this year – work has rather got in the way – so I hope I don't embarrass myself," Stirk said.

"DJ Spoony has raved about this event for years, so I was particularly pleased to be invited. I am really looking forward to doing my bit to help Mr Player raise money for charity, and the sunny weather in South Africa won't hurt, either!"

LPGA competitor

LPGA Tour player Sandra Gal is making waves on and off the golf course.

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, the 24-year-old made her way via Qualifying School onto the LPGA Tour in 2008, but it wasn't until she completed her degree in advertising from the University of Florida with honours that she really threw herself into the game.

She recorded a career-best tie for 14 at the Ginn Tribute in 2008, which she bettered with a tie for fifth at the LPGA Corning Classic this year. With eight top-20 finishes this season, Gal has broken into the top-50 in the 2009 rankings.

Model

Standing six feet tall, Gal's shy demeanour belies her depth. She speaks five languages, including her native German. She also paints, designs and plays the violin. And, as one of seven LPGA Tour players who signed up with Wilhelmina Models, Gal adds a colourful injection of glamour and "girlieness" to the sport away from the course.

"All of us want to be known as golfers, first and foremost, but we are all hungry to become the first active Wilhemina 7 member to bag an LPGA win," says Gal. "Whoever it is, the rest of us will be happy for, because the nice thing is that when one of us succeeds, it reflects well on all of us.

"Moreover, I think that the Wilhelmina 7 paves the way for girls who may be apprehensive about approaching a sport that is still very much regarded as a 'gentlemen's game'.

"I like to think I'm doing my part in helping to reinvent the game, making it more fashionable and more feminine."

Rising British star

Zuel established her credential as one of Britain's rising stars when she won the Girls' British Open Amateur Championship, before emerging from the amateur ranks to make her professional debut last April in Spain.

In her rookie season, Zuel's best showing came at the Ladies European Tour S4C Wales Ladies Championship, where she led the after two rounds before finishing tied for third, one stroke off the lead.

Zuel also has a passion for fashion and would like to design her own retro clothing line in the future, but for now she is concentrating on leaving her mark on the professional ranks – and women's sport.

"I want to be European number one and then the world number one," said Zuel, who was inspired to become a professional golfer at the age of nine while watching Jose Maria Olazabal winning the Masters.

Playing with a legend

"It is not often that someone as young and unknown as me gets the chance to play with a legend like Gary Player, so there was no doubt in my mind what I would be doing at the end of November. And children should be our number one priority.

"It is an honour for me to be part of this special event and do my bit to raise money for the children of South Africa."

Among the competitors who will join the ladies at The Links are Grand Slam winner Gary Player, double US Open champion Retief Goosen, reigning Masters champion Angel Cabrera, DJ Spoony, Ard Matthews, and Lucas Radebe.

Tickets are available from Computicket at a cost of R75 each.

SAinfo reporter