Nelson Mandela 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.
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.
Winners
Pro-Am Team Tournament (2000–2013)
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 Rashād, 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
Professional Tournament (2000–2011)
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
- McGreal, Chris (9 October 2007). "Mandela snubs Gary Player over Burma links". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdraws name from Gary Player's golf tournament". Associated Press. International Herald Tribune. November 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
External links
- Gary Player Invitational – South Africa (Past Results)
