1 December 2003

The 23rd edition of the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City produced an amazing turnaround that was for all the wrong reasons for two southern Africans. Nick Price and Ernie Els, who between them have won the tournament six times, finished last and second last as Spain's Sergio Garcia won the event in a playoff on the 16th hole for the second time.

In 2001 the Spanish star had edged Ernie Els with a chip-in on the 16th; this time around it took a 20-foot putt to win it. It was, surprisingly, Garcia's first victory of 2003, but then again he has spent much of the year working on changes in his swing.

Once again it was a South African who came up short against Garcia in the playoff as Retief Goosen just missed out on winning the Nedbank Challenge for the first time in his career.

He and Garcia had finished on 14-under par 274 for the tournament after final rounds of 69 and 70 respectively. Goosen had a chance to win it on the 18th, but his putt for victory failed to fall, and so it went to the playoff.

'You like this hole, don't you?'
When Garcia drained his 20-footer to win, Goosen smiled at him, shook his hand and quipped: “You like this hole, don't you?” He hadn't forgotten Garcia’s miracle chip from 2001.

Vijay Singh claimed third, three shots off the pace on 277, while Darren Clarke produced the best round of the final day, a five-under par 67, to claim fourth on 278.

At the other end of the standings, Els and Price were the only two players to finish over par, with Ernie on two-over 290, and Nick on four-over 292.

That was an incredible change for Els, who had dominated the Gary Player Country Club course and the field in three of the past four years, taking three titles with a combined score of 66-under par. In the other year, 2001, he tied with Garcia on 20-under before losing in the playoff.

Fighting child abuse
Price managed to get something of himself into the winner's circle, though. He asked Garcia to wear two silver logos in support of the campaign against the abuse of children, and the Spaniard gladly obliged.

So ended a wonderful few weeks of golf in South Africa that drew some of the finest players in the world to contest The Presidents Cup and the Nedbank Challenge. The two events proved a fine advertisement for the game and a great advertisement for South Africa.

There seems to be something special when holiday season is approaching, when the overseas tours have wound down their seasons, and the sun is shining on South Africa's golf courses …

Nedbank Challenge final standings:

292 Nick Price

	Sergio Garcia won the Nedbank Challenge in a playoff for the second time, with both victories being sealed on the 16th hole

	'Mbeki magic' at Presidents Cup SA's Presidents Cup flows over Ernie's first signature course in SA Gary Player, golfer laureate Hail Ernie, King of Sun City Golf: Retief Goosen Sun, surf & golf Nedbank Golf Challenge Golf: Ernie Els Golf: Bobby Locke Golf: Gary Player Golf courses in South Africa

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