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Nedbank run ends for Els

'Big Easy' to miss first Nedbank Challenge event since 1991

Last updated: 2nd December 2008

Els: missing Nedbank event for first time since 1991

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For the first time since 1991, South Africa's favourite golfing son will not be teeing-up in the $4.385m Nedbank Challenge.

Nedbank Challenge stats package

Ernie Els has played at Sun City for 16 straight years, collecting almost $8m in the process.

However, the 39-year-old is absent for family reasons and the 12-man event probably offers up the least experienced Sun City field in its history.

New world No 2 Sergio Garcia will start as the favourite. The 28-year-old two-time winner has banked just over $4m from seven starts and has more Nedbank experience than probably half of the field put together.

Another contender is England's Lee Westwood who has twice come close to winning the tournament.

He lost a play-off to Ernie Els in 2000 and four years later led through 54 holes before falling away dramatically with a closing 80.

And the locals will keep a close eye on defending champion Trevor Immelman who returns to Sun City with a Masters' Green Jacket safely tucked away in his Augusta locker.

Immelman is the only reigning Major champion teeing-up this week.

But one player not expected to claim the winner's cheque of $1.2m is Miguel Angel Jimenez.

The Spaniard has made two previous visits that have yielded finishes of last and joint-last.

However, nobody goes away with nothing in Sun City where the player who finishes 12th takes home a cheque for $200k.