Africa’s major is the penultimate event on the European Tour and the golfers will be targeting valuable points in the Race to Dubai Series.

Els is the third three-time winner at Sun City after his countryman, David Frost, and Zimbabwe’s Nick Price.

Els’ most recent victory in the Pilanesberg came just a few months after he triumphed in The Open for the first time, adding to the two U.S. Open titles he had claimed in 1994 and 1997.

Els who turned 50 in October is far from the favourite to win this week, however, he is all too happy to be back and the course which has brought him many happy memories.

“I’m pleased to have been given an invite. I am over 50-years-old now, so I am the oldest guy in the field.

“I’ve had so many great memories around Sun City. From the fans and from the people I have met here and obviously the golf course is very special to me.

“I’ve done well here in the past but I am not that player that I used to be but you never know. If I get hot it will be great, and if not I just want to have a nice week and enjoy the fans, enjoy the crowd, the surroundings, enjoy the golf course and feed off of the good memories.”

Els joins a field that includes fellow South African Major winner Louis Oosthuizen and another countryman in Branden Grace, who claimed his first Rolex Series title at the Nedbank Golf Challenge two years ago.

Els will tee-off his campaign on Thursday morning at 9:00 from the first tee, alongside Ireland's Padraig Harrington and England's Matthew Southgate.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport