A fixture on the golfing calendar, and eventually the European, now DP World, Tour, this event started life as the Million Dollar Challenge with a small field trying to win what was then an eye watering sum of money for professional golfers.

Attracting many of the biggest names in golf to South Africa, the field size has expanded over the years, though remains a limited one mixed with local South Africans and DP World Tour regulars.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: We are getting to the end of the defending champions with an asterisks who are more than a year removed from when they actually won the tournament due to the pandemic.

This event is one of the longer examples, with Tommy Fleetwood winning here back in 2019.

The Englishman needed extra holes to take the trophy from Swede Marcus Kinhult then, the pair locked at 12-under-par after four rounds, with Fleetwood taking home US$2.5 million for his troubles.

RIGHT: Tommy Fleetwood heads back to South Africa to try and hold onto the trophy he won in 2019. PHOTO: Jan Kurger/Getty Images.

COURSE: Opening in 1979 and playing host to this event since its inception in 1981, the Gary Player Country Club is back this week and sure to test the skills and execution of the players here.

Unique at the time for its American golf influence in the then largely unexposed South African golf scene, the par-72 is long, as in 7,151 metres long with driving accuracy also at a premium. And unsurprisingly given Player as designer of the course named for him uses bunkering in the fairways and greens as a significant part of the defence.

Water also comes into play with regularity, while the casino and resort side course is also near game parks that make for wildlife camera shots and spotting on the course a regular feature.

A fairly flat piece of land, the putting surfaces are fast and not lacking in break, as well as being well protected.

PRIZEMONEY: US$6,000,000

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PLAYERS TO WATCH: Tommy Fleetwood has found form in patches throughout this year, and there is no reason to believe he won’t bring something similar to the golf that delivered a T4 in his last start at the CJ Cup on the PGA Tour.

Fleetwood is a top class ball striker, and that is the sort of player who succeeds here. This was also where his last victory came, so that confidence boost has to help somewhat as he looks to go back-to-back.

The 18th at the Gary Player Country Club always provides some excitement. PHOTO: Jan Kruger/Getty Images.

If a course is long, it makes sense to look at those who hit it a long way as being potential chances, and few do that better than Ryan Fox.

The Kiwi has had a remarkable year with two DP World Tour wins and a swag of other top-10 results that have continued into his last start in Spain, meaning he sits in second on the season long rankings.

Fox is heading for Australia and our two big events of the summer, but one would imagine he will be fancying his chances both this week and next in Dubai for the Tour’s season finale.

Another player with a game suited here is Aussie Lucas Herbert who thinks he needs something in the area of a top-10 to keep his season alive and move onto Dubai next week.

The Victorian has spent the year playing both the PGA and DP World Tours with mixed results, but when he is on, Herbert is a winner.

Recently returning home for a wedding that was cancelled due to the floods in his hometown of Bendigo, Herbert will be nice and fresh for this.

Min Woo Lee will also be looking for a big finish to the year after delivering a bit of everything during his globetrotting 2022.

The West Australian will relish the driving challenge dished up here and should have the chance to hit a good variety of shots, an aspect of the game that seems to bring out his best.

Lee was very good in Spain recently, so expect him to be right in things over the next four weeks as he jumps from South Africa to Dubai then Brisbane and Melbourne.

72-HOLE RECORD: 263 (Ernie Els, 1999)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Marc Leishman (2015) and Robert Allenby (2009).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Lucas Herbert and Min Woo Lee.

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7:30pm – 1am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7:30pm – 1am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 7:30pm – 1am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 6:30pm – 12am)
*AEDT, check local guides