Nelson Mandela Invitational

(Redirected from Gary Player Invitational)

The Nelson Mandela Invitational was a charity golf tournament which took place annually in South Africa from 2000 until 2006. It was named in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and hosted by South Africa's most successful professional golfer Gary Player. Player and Mandela appeared at the event almost every year to accept proceeds on behalf of the Children's Fund and the Player Foundation who were equal beneficiaries.

Just prior to the 2007 edition, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdrew their support citing concerns over Player's involvement with the design of a golf course in Burma.[1][2] Both Mandela and Desmond Tutu subsequently accepted Gary Player's position and statement on Burma and requested that the event continue, however the Children's Fund CEO refused to do so and thus forfeited on the name and future charitable funds raised through the tournament. The event continued as the Gary Player Invitational until 2013.[citation needed]

The field was made up of eight teams of four, each consisting of a senior professional, a regular tour professional, a celebrity and a businessman. The teams competed for the Alliance Medal, in which the best two scores of the four players counted on each hole. A second better-ball competition for the professionals was staged, with the best score of the two counting on each hole.[citation needed]

Winners

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Pro-Am Team Tournament (2000–2013)

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Gary Player Team Invitational: (4 player team)

Year Winners
2013 Retief Goosen, Herschelle Gibbs, Anthony Leeming, Mike Dladla
2012 Tim Clark, Kenny Dalglish, Alex Maditsi, Doug Jackson
2011 Wessel Witthuhn, Shaun Pollock
2010 John Cook, Sergio García, Sinead Kenny, Dwight Yorke
2009 Thomas Aiken, Vincent Tshabalala, DJ Spoony, Abdullah Al Naboodah
2008 Retief Goosen, Costantino Rocca, Ines Sastre, Alan Pearson
2007 Luke Donald, Sally Little, Alex Maditsi, Marc Player

Nelson Mandela Team Invitational: (4 player team)

Year Winners
2006 Sandy Lyle, Omar Sandys, Ashleigh Simon, David Lyons
2005 Gary Player, Trevor Immelman, Ahmad Rashad, Alex Maditsi
2004 Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday, Inés Sastre, Doug Jackson
2003 Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday, Mark Boucher, Carl Ware
2002 Hugh Baiocchi, Deane Pappas, Gary Lineker, Dave King
2001 Simon Hobday, Martin Maritz, Nick Mallet, Doug Jackson
2000 Gary Player, Don Gammon, Julius Erving, Dave King

Winners

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Professional Tournament (2000–2011)

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Gary Player Invitational

Year Winners
2011 George Coetzee and Mark James
2010 John Cook and Sergio García
2009 Ángel Cabrera and Tony Johnstone
2008 Bobby Lincoln and Garth Mulroy
2007 Sally Little and Luke Donald

Nelson Mandela Invitational

Year Winners
2006 Bobby Lincoln and Retief Goosen
2005 Vincent Tshabalala and Tim Clark
2004 Vincent Tshabalala and Ernie Els
2003 Lee Westwood and Simon Hobday
2002 Hugh Baiocchi and Deane Pappas
2001 Simon Hobday and Martin Maritz
2000 Retief Goosen and Allan Henning

References

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  1. ^ McGreal, Chris (9 October 2007). "Mandela snubs Gary Player over Burma links". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. ^ "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdraws name from Gary Player's golf tournament". Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. 1 November 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
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