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The 9 SA golfers flying the SA flag at Sun City

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Dylan Frittelli (Getty Images)
Dylan Frittelli (Getty Images)

Cape Town - The 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City tees off on Thursday at the Gary Player Country Club.

READ: Bookies fancy Englishman for 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge glory

The $7.5 million tournament, to be hosted by SA golfing legend Gary Player, is the penultimate event on the European Tour's Race to Dubai.

Nine South Africans form part of the 72-man field.

Only five South Africans have won the tournament since its inception in 1981: Fulton Allem (1988), David Frost (1989, 1990, 1992), Ernie Els (1999, 2000, 2002), Retief Goosen (2004) and Trevor Immelman (2007).

The nine SA players participating in the 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge:

1. Louis Oosthuizen

The 2010 Open Champion will be looking to impress at Sun City after a month long break.

The world No 23 finished ninth last year and be looking to build from his runner-up finish at the PGA Championship this year.

Oosthuizen tees off alongside England's Ross Fisher and Italian Francesco Molinari in Round 1 at 10:50.

2. Charl Schwartzel

Schwartzel will be looking to get back to winning ways at home after a decent season on the PGA and European Tours.

The 2011 Masters champion finished tied 39th at last year's tournament.

Schwartzel tees off in Thursday's opening round alongside Irishman Padraig Harrington and England's Lee Westwood at 10:17.

3. Branden Grace

Grace has not managed a win this season, but he made history when he shot the lowest round in a major - 62 - at the Open Championship.

The world No 44 will be looking to deliver another stellar performance in Sun City after finishing tied for third last year.

Grace tees off alongside Dane Thorbjørn Olesen and Englishman Jordan Smith at 09:55 in Round 1.

4. Dylan Frittelli

Frittelli is a man in form following a tie for second in last week's Turkish Airlines Open.

The 27-year-old will be making his debut at Sun City and looking to secure his second European Tour title of the season.

Frittelli tees off alongside Englishmen Ian Poulter and Graeme Smith at 09:00 in Round 1.

5. George Coetzee

Coetzee hasn't won this season, but he did finish in a tie for sixth in the Italian Open last month.

Coetzee tees off alongside Britain's David Horsey and Scotland's David Drysdale in the opening round at 10:50.

6. Richard Sterne

The world No 128 finished tied 20th in last year's Nedbank Challenge.

Sterne tees off in Round 1 alongside England's Matt Wallace and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy at 09:55.

7. Brandon Stone

Stone was victorious earlier this season when he won his second European Tour title, the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December 2016.

In his first Nedbank Golf Challenge last year, Stone had a disappointing showing, finishing 69th.

Stone tees off alongside Scotland's Marc Warren and Dane Søren Kjeldsen at 10:17 on Thursday.

8. Dean Burmester

The 28-year-old won his first European Tour title this year after winning the Tshwane Open in March.

Burmester will be making his debut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Burmester tees off alongside Englishman Andy Sullivan and Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts at 10:28 in Round 1.

9. Haydn Porteous

Porteous has had a stellar European Tour season after clinching the Czech Masters in September.

The 23-year-old will be making his debut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Porteous tees off alongside England's Matthew Southgate and China's Haotong Li at 09:22 in Round 1.

Images: Getty/Gallo

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