FOR RELEASE: 16 November 2009
(George, South Africa) – South Africans Garth Mulroy and Tjaart van der Walt believe that the competitive streak in top golfers will always come out even when playing in a charity event such as the Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola and hosted by Gary Player.
The pair was speaking on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the tournament, which is being played at The Links at Fancourt in George, South Africa from 26-29 November 2009.
“It is all about charity and fun during the week, but the competitiveness in us is always going to come out and we are always going to try and beat each other,” recent PGA Tour graduate Mulroy said.
Mulroy broke into the winning circle last year with victory at the Vodacom Origins of Golf Tour at Arabella and followed with his second Sunshine Tour win at the Coca-Cola Championship hosted by Gary Player at Fancourt.
This earned him an automatic place in the field and the Umkomaas player got his first taste of the charity tournament when he partnered senior pro Bobby Lincoln to victory in the Betterball Medal competition.
Mulroy rode the momentum of the runner-up spot on the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit to a superb year in the United States.
“I had a great year, yes, but I guess you could say it all started here at home,” said Mulroy.
Campaigning on the Nationwide Tour since 2005, Mulroy won his first event on US soil at the South Georgia Classic in April. His victory, combined with four other top five finishes saw him break into the top-25 on the Nationwide Tour to secure his card for the US PGA Tour in 2010.
“I’m really excited about playing on the PGA Tour next year; it’s what I’ve been working towards ever since I joined the Nationwide Tour,” he said. “But right now, I am really excited about being back in South Africa.
“This is my second Gary Player Invitational and this time I am really looking forward to it. I was caught a little off guard last year, since I didn’t actually know that I had qualified for the tournament but it all worked out well in the end.
Van der Walt, also a Nationwide Tour campaigner, is looking forward to his debut at South Africa’s premier charity event.
“Over the years I have watched the event on television and always thought it was a brilliant concept but I never expected to actually tee it up myself,” he said. “It’s nice to come here with Garth; we got to know each other a little better and have become friends and any rivalry between us will be friendly.”
But he did confirm that he would gladly take a wager with his countryman for the tournament.
“Sure we will have a bet,” Van der Walt said. “We are playing for charity, yes, but the competitive edge is very much alive, especially with Retief Goosen and Angel Cabrera in the field.
“Can you imagine beating Major winners at a venue like The Links at Fancourt?”
The eight fourballs consisting of a senior professional, a professional, a celebrity and a businessman, will compete over 36 holes in a Fourball Alliance with two scores to count in the charity pro-am event while the two professionals in each group will also compete in a separate Betterball Medal competition for first prize of R250,000.
Contact:
Marc Tudhope, Managing Director, Black Knight International
E: marc@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Jo Hone, GPI Event Director, Black Knight International
E: jo@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Jen Fonseca, Program Director for The Player Foundation
E: jen@garyplayer.com or T: +1 561 624 0300
