At the start of the Nedbank Golf Challenge on Thursday led by Gary Player at Sun City, fans will witness Rory McIlroy paired with the defending champion Branden Grace in the opening round. This exciting development will see both talented golfers compete in the same group in Africa’s Major tournament. McIlroy and Grace, who haven’t participated in this event since 2009, have generated considerable anticipation among golf enthusiasts. The draw for the 2018 tournament has been revealed, showcasing several notable groupings that fans can look forward to.
Joining McIlroy and Grace in their group is the in-form Haotong Li, who will tee off from the first hole at the Gary Player Country Club at 10:51. McIlroy is reportedly determined to make an impact during this challenge. It has been two and a half years since the four-time major champion last claimed a European Tour title at the Irish Open, with his most recent victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. Despite close calls this year, McIlroy is eager to perform well.
Currently ranked eighth in the Race to Dubai standings, a win at this event would propel McIlroy to second place. This would set him up to compete alongside leader Francesco Molinari at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next week. McIlroy expressed his ambition to deliver outstanding performance over the next two weeks, emphasizing his focus on the upcoming challenge this week.
