The DP World Tour hops from Australia to South Africa for this week's Nedbank Golf Challenge, played at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.
First played in 1981, this tournament has gone through a number of revamps through the years, but the one constant has been the host course, a par 72 that measures 7,819 yards.
With narrow fairways and thick rough, driving the ball well is a key part to success, as is finding the greens on approach given the number of well-placed bunkers protecting the greens.
- ELVIS SMYLIE TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
- ALEXANDER BJORK TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
- ROBIN WILLIAMS TOP-20 FINISH
Aussie To Continue Fine Form
It has been quite the start to the 2025 DP World Tour campaign for Elvis Smylie, who clinched his maiden title at this level when winning the season-opening BMW Australian PGA Championship by two shots.
The Australian left-hander followed that up with a tied-fifth finish at the ISPS Handa Australian Open and he won't want this year to end, having also won the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open on the Australasia Tour in October.
Smylie drove the ball well last week, ranking 17th in distance and 26th in accuracy, while he was also 10th in greens in regulation and 29th in scrambling.
Making his Nedbank debut, the 22-year-old is full of confidence and he can put in another strong challenge in South Africa.
ELVIS SMYLIE TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
Bjork Can Hit The Right Note
It has been over six years since Alexander Bjork won his maiden DP World Tour title at the China Open, but a return to a course he impressed at last year could spark a return to the winners' circle.
The 34-year-old has struggled on the PGA Tour this year, with a T11 at the American Express his best finish, and a return to a DPWT field could help him get into contention.
Bjork has fared better at this level, finishing T8 at the Scandinavian Masters and T12 at the European Masters, and he was one of the best drivers in 2023 with a driving accuracy ranking of fourth.
The Swedish ace was also 11th in GIR and sixth in scrambling that year and if he can repeat anything close to those kinds of numbers this week, he will be in with a chance of winning at the course he was tied-10th at last year.
ALEXANDER BJORK TO WIN AND EACH-WAY
Improvement To Keep On Coming For Williams
Robin Williams was given a personal invitation to compete in this event by Gary Player and he can take full advantage of that by recording a top-20 finish.
There are high hopes for the 23-year-old South African, who finished second on the 2023/24 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and was named the Fortress Rookie of the Year last season.
Williams defended his Fortress Invitational title in October on the Sunshine Tour, while two starts later he was tied-fourth at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on the DPWT.
He is taking everything in his stride and it would be no surprise to see him put in a strong performance on his Sun City debut.
ROBIN WILLIAMS TOP-20 FINISH
