Schwartzel adds to star-studded field for Alfred Dunhill Championship

About Sunshine Tour

South Africa is one of the most prolific producers of world-class golfing talent in the world, and the Sunshine Tour has been integral to our nation’s success. The Tour has produced some of the most successful golfers on the PGA and DP World Tour both past and present, such as Gary Player, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen, Trevor Immelman, Charl Schwartzel, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Erik Van Rooyen, and Garrick Higgo.

The Sunshine Tour has partnered with various organisations, brands, and stakeholders to create a platform for golfers from the southern African region and abroad to display their talent and become successful golfers on the global stage. These partners include the DP World Tour, Golf RSA, the South African Golf Development Board, the South African Golf Association, and the PGA of South Africa, with all these organisations contributing to the Sunshine Tour becoming one of the premier golf tours in the world.

In addition, hosting tournaments in the southern African region and visiting a variety of regions, climates, and courses helps stimulate economic growth and activity by involving local communities in varying capacities. These Sunshine Tour events have become highly anticipated both for players and golf fans. Of these events, none are more anticipated than the Joburg Open, the Investec SA Open Championship, and the Alfred Dunhill Championship; all are Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned events. These tournaments have seen some of the most well-known players in the world compete, including Ernie Els, Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, and Henrik Stenson.

The Sunshine Tour’s mission statement is Greatness Begins Here. As it continues to grow, it provides a platform for more golfers to achieve their own greatness while asserting South Africa’s position as a vibrant and competitive golfing nation.

Charl Schwartzel has confirmed he will return to Leopard Creek this month in search of a record fifth Alfred Dunhill Championship title, adding his name to a glittering array of stars that will walk the fairways of South Africa’s number one ranked golf course from 12-15 December.

The 2011 Masters champion will join defending champion Louis Oosthuizen in a field that includes eight of the last 13 champions of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek along with Ockie Strydom, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Pablo Larrazabal, Brandon Stone, Richard Sterne and Alvaro Quiros.

PGA Tour winners Erik van Rooyen and Dylan Frittelli as well as multiple DP World Tour champions Thriston Lawrence and Dean Burmester, and rising star Aldrich Potgieter, who has just secured his PGA Tour card for the new season, add to the impressive line-up this year.

The 20-year-old Chinese sensation Wenyi Ding will make his debut in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

And South Africa’s Altin van der Merwe returns to Leopard Creek where he made history by becoming the first winner of the inaugural Africa Amateur Championship in February this year, after which he later turned professional.

But amongst them all, Schwartzel will be more motivated than ever to add to his already incredible history in this tournament and at this golf course.

Schwartzel already has four Alfred Dunhill Championship titles to his name and still owns the record tournament total of 24 under par and the biggest margin of victory of 12 strokes.

But perhaps even more significant is that he has now finished runner-up five times in this Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament. His most recent second place was last year when he pushed close friend Oosthuizen right until the final hole before finishing two strokes behind him.

“For me, growing up in South Africa and being privileged to grow up on a farm, I was around big space my whole life. I grew to love nature a lot. Our weekend getaways were always to the bushveld. Everybody has their place they go where they get that calming effect and where you feel like you’re alone in the world. To me the bush does that to me. I love the sounds and the smells. It gives me a lot of peace,” said Schwartzel.

“So that’s why Leopard Creek is so special to me. There is no setting like it in the world – to play golf on the edge of the Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park. It doesn’t get much better than that.” – Michael Vlismas

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