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Wall of Fame of recent Nedbank Challenge champions, from Thomas Bjorn in 2013 to Tommy Fleetwood.
year saw the introduction of three World Golf Championship events on the PGA Tour, worth $15 million in prize money for the best golfers. Alastair Roper, who succeeded as tournament director in 1999, struggled from that year on to recruit Americans. He pursued US Open champion Payne Stewart late into the year, going to the Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews to try and sign him, but Stewart declined. Tragically he died a few weeks later in a plane crash and we never saw him at Sun City. Tiger Woods launched his World Challenge in Arizona in January 2000, with an identical format to the Million Dollar, and moved the second one to a December date in California which clashed with Sun City. The top Americans no longer had any need to fly all the way to Africa to play for a $1 million first prize. The tournament also lost its World Ranking points from 2000 onwards. From January that year these were only awarded to official tour events.
The sudden-death playoff began at the par-3 16th, and both men played a series of incredible recovery shots to maintain the suspense for another hour. Tiger had a makeable birdie putt on 18 to seal the win, and when he missed it the crowd couldn’t control their elation. Back they went to the 16th. Price was close with his tee shot, and was visibly annoyed when he missed the putt. The par-4 17th still had the old green inland from the main dam, and was a relatively short par 4 for the pros. Price didn’t hit a great approach, but holed a tricky birdie putt with the cool detachment of an executioner. He remained the oldest winner until 42-year-old Thomas Bjorn triumphed in 2013. “Nick was so happy and relieved to beat Tiger,” said Lekhulene. “I remember his words to me: ‘Nobody will beat this kid going forward.’” The 1998 Nedbank Million Dollar was the end of an era in some ways at Sun City, even though there were fabulous tournaments still to come. The following
“We were one shot ahead on the last hole. Tiger was just off the green with his second. Nick tapped me with his putter and said, ‘Watch, Tiger will hole that chip.’ And he did.” Price and Woods had both shot 66 in the final round, and tied on 15-under 273. “NICK WAS SO HAPPY AND RELIEVED TO BEAT TIGER,” SAID LEKHULENE. “I REMEMBER HIS WORDS TO ME: ‘NOBODY WILL BEAT THIS KID GOING FORWARD.’”
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