Immelman needs a masterstroke

south african defends title but could still be struggling to overcome that augusta reaction

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South Africa’s Trevor Immelman today makes his first appearance in his home country since winning the US Masters when he defends his title in the Nedbank Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

Immelman, 28, won the 2007 event after receiving a late invitation – but less than two weeks later he had to withdraw from the South African Open because of a benign lung tumour which required surgery.

Four months later he beat off Tiger Woods and the rest of the world’s leading golfers in the Masters, holding or sharing the lead through all four rounds in brutally tough conditions.

He hasn’t had a win since and has admitted that he found it difficult to lift his game to the same level in the months which followed.

“There were many different things I had to find time to deal with and learn how to handle them,” he said.

“Probably for the first time in my life and my career I let golf slip down my priority list.”

Favourite for the $1.2million first prize this weekend is Spain’s Sergio Garcia, whose recent good form has lifted him to number two in the world rankings.

Other strong contenders will include Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson, who combined to win the World Cup for Sweden in China on Sunday.

Stenson has finished second and fourth in two previous appearances at Sun City but world number six Karlsson will be playing in the tournament for the first time.

The 12 invited players are guaranteed a minimum of $200,000 in prize money but this year’s field lacks some of the glamour of previous years, although eight of the world’s top 20 will be teeing up.

South African crowd favourite Ernie Els is missing after 16 consecutive appearances during which he won three times and finished in the top three on 10 occasions.

Also missing is Retief Goosen, another major winner, who has dropped down the world rankings. American Anthony Kim was signed up but withdrew because of injury. He is replaced by Luke Donald, of England.

Because the tournament carries world ranking points, invitations have to be issued according to a strict formula, either current major champions or the highest available players on the official rankings after the US PGA championship.

The only exception is the South African order of merit winner, James Kingston, who is ranked 72.

The great German player Bernhard Langer once said the Gary Player Country Club course in Sun City rivalled Augusta National when it came to its conditioning.

Typically, though, the rough is penal.

“Usually at this time of the year I’m cutting hay on my farm back home in Kentucky,” said Kenny Perry, the only American in this year’s 12-man line-up.

“And I can tell you, I wish I could cut this rough.”