Tommy Fleetwood is not short of fond memories in Sun City as he prepares to make his long-awaited title defence at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.
The European Ryder Cup star is one of the headline acts this week as the Gary Player Country Club welcomes back ‘Africa’s Major’, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this week.
Fleetwood made three eagles in a final round seven under 65 to come back from a six-shot deficit and then beat Swede Marcus Kinhult in a play-off when the tournament was last staged in 2019 before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A towering five wood into the heart of the 14th green set up his third eagle of the day as he moved into a tie for the lead, before he clinched victory with an exquisite up and down par save on the first play-off hole.
Victory in what was the penultimate Rolex Series event of the 2019 season saw the Englishman claim his fifth DP World Tour title.
It ended a 22-month wait since his fourth victory at the 2018 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – another Rolex Series event.
Earlier that summer he had finished runner-up behind Shane Lowry in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
His triumph in South Africa catapulted him into contention to claim the honour of winning the Harry Vardon Trophy at the season-ending event in Dubai, where he finished second to European Number One Jon Rahm.
Two years earlier, Fleetwood finished in the top ten at the Nedbank Golf Challenge on his way to winning the season-long rankings for the first time in his career.
In his four appearances since his debut in Sun City in 2014, he has finished no worse than in a tie for 21st in 2015 and will aim to keep up that good record this week.
.@TommyFleetwood1 tracers at @SunCityResortSA 🚀#NGC2022 | #TourArchive pic.twitter.com/eCoSIGBjCe
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 8, 2022
Despite being without a victory since his success last time out at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the World Number 25 arrives in South Africa on the back of a top-five finish at the CJ Cup in South Carolina on the PGA TOUR.
With Fleetwood lying 13th in the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex after three top fives earlier this season, he will hope a return to the scene of past glory can inspire him to a strong end to the season and possibly a return to the winner’s circle.
