Event of the Day: The 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge
Our event of the day is the 2018 Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City in South Africa. This prestigious event takes place across four days, starting today and drawing to a close on Sunday. There will be immense quality scattered throughout the 72-man field, including the likes of Louis Oosthuizen, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood. The players will be competing for the lion’s share of the $7.5 million purse, and to do so, they will have to navigate their way around one of the longest courses in the world, measuring over 7,000 metres from the back markers. Last year’s winner, Branden Grace, will return to the Gary Player Country Club as he attempts to join the elite handful of players who have successfully defended their title at this event.
However, Grace will have to improve on his recent performances if he is to become the seventh ever player to win back to back in this event. The South African has underwhelmed in the majors this year, with his best finish being 24th at The Masters. Rory McIlroy goes into this event as favourite to lift the trophy, despite never winning the tournament before in his career. The four-time major winner has had a mixed 2018 season thus far, as he finished tied for second at The Open and fifth at The Masters, whilst also winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Two-time winner Lee Westwood has had a quiet season, with The Open being the only major he has participated in, where he finished 61st. With a star-studded field, this year’s challenge is set to deliver a thrilling four days of golf!
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NFL as the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the Carolina Panthers to Heinz Field. Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers are currently first in the AFC North with a record of 5-2-1, whilst the Panthers sit second in the NFC south with a superior record of 6-2. The Steelers have won their last five matches against Carolina and will be hoping to utilise their home field advantage to take their sixth W in a row against them on Thursday night. In the NBA, the best in the West take on the second ranked team in the East, as the 10-1 Golden State Warriors host the 8-2 Milwaukee Bucks. After winning their first seven games, the Bucks have lost two of their last three games and will have to improve to beat the best team in the league. There is plenty of Europa League action on Thursday night as the fourth game week of this year’s campaign gets underway. The standout fixture is Arsenal versus Sporting Lisbon, where an Arsenal victory would confirm their place in the knockout stages. There is a heavyweight clash in the NHL as the Tampa Bay Lightning face off with the New York Islanders. Both teams are currently first in their respective divisions and this promises to be an exhilarating contest. Finally, Day 3 of the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and England takes place today at the Galle International Stadium, where the hosts currently trail by 177 runs and England still have 10 second innings wickets in hand.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by Nedbank Golf Challenge