Johannes Veerman is proud to be among elite company as he returns to Sun City for his title defence at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player.
The American claimed his second DP World Tour title and the biggest win of his career last year, overturning a five-shot deficit in the final round to claim a dramatic one-shot victory on his event debut.
By doing so, he joined an elite roll call of players to have won “Africa’s Major” – including former World Number Ones Seve Ballesteros, Sir Nick Faldo and Ernie Els – and he is enjoying every minute of reliving the memories of his triumph.
While this may just be his second start at the event, the 33-year-old first played at the world-renowned Gary Player Country Club in the South African Open in his rookie DP World Tour campaign in 2020.
“Yesterday I played the back nine to just reacquaint myself with the golf course, but I was really excited to play the back nine because I knew we had the big grandstand over there,” he said.
“I just wanted to be back on 18 and just relive that moment. Today, in the Pro-Am, walking down nine there is a walkway that goes up to the green and has all the past champions and that hit pretty good.
“The first time I played this course years ago, I remember seeing [Seve] Ballesteros, [Lee] Westwood, Ernie Els, [Retief] Goosen.
“You see the names and the people that have won this tournament. I remember the first time walking down the bridge, I thought ‘wow this is an unbelievable list of champions.
“Today, to walk down on hole nine and see my name as part of that, that hit me pretty hard I would say.”
Aware of the history of the event, Veerman is aiming to become the eighth player in the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and only the second American after Jim Furyk, to successfully defend his title.
Veerman is part of a high-calibre field for this year’s tournament which also includes Ryder Cup star Viktor Hovland, PGA TOUR regulars Nick Taylor and Will Zalatoris and last season's Race to Dubai runner-up Marco Penge.
Asked what makes the limited field event so special, he said: “Part of it is playing in South Africa.
“As a whole, this place is unbelievable. It is family driven, it is an amazing sporting nation. It has got an incredible zest for life, the beauty is so raw. When you are here it is stunning.
“We are playing a world-class venue and Gary Player is the GOAT, right? He is hosting this event.
“Like, everything added together makes this place just incredibly special.”
Victory at Sun City last year prompted a strong start to his season and while he was unable to sustain that for a prolonged period, Veerman did make it to the DP World Tour Championship last month and is feeling positive as he embarks on his seventh Race to Dubai campaign.
“Most of us are starting our 2026 season as well, so to come back out, start a new year in an amazing place in an amazing country just means a lot,” he said.
“I had a pretty big low point in the summer but it [the game] has been coming back. Me and my coach have been working on my game, and the game actually feels pretty solid right now and I obviously have a very nice memory bank to pull from out here on this golf course so I hope that could save me a shot or two out here when I need it.
“I am really looking forward to it.”
