The annual Nedbank Challenge at Sun City in South Africa will become one of the opening events of the 2014 European Race to Dubai schedule when it is staged later this year from 5th to 8th December.

The co-sanctioned event with the Sunshine Tour will be a 30-man field competing for a total purse of $6.5 million at the Gary Player Country Club – an increase of $1.5 million on the 2012 prize money. The first-place cheque will remain $1.25 million, and last place will be worth $100 000.

Players will also have the added attraction that the Nedbank Golf Challenge will count towards Official World Golf Ranking points as well as Ryder Cup points, and as official money on both the European Tour Race to Dubai and the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit.

The eligibility criteria for a place in one of the most sought-after fields in world golf has been expanded to ensure the 2013 Nedbank Golf Challenge will be amongst the most globally represented tournaments in the history of South African golf.

Selwyn Nathan, Commissioner of the Southern Africa PGA Tour, Alastair Roper, Tournament Director, Nedbank Golf Challenge, and Keith Waters, Chief Operating Officer of The European Tour at the annoucement the Nedbank Challenge will become part of the Race to Dubai Tour.

As per tradition, the defending champion remains exempt for the following year’s tournament. The winner of the previous season’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit is also still guaranteed a place in the field.

The new selection criteria targets the best of the world’s leading tours, from the PGA Tour and European Tour to the Japan Golf Tour. There will also be an increase in the number of South Africans eligible for qualification in the field.

In terms of the official world money lists, the field will now be drawn from the leading 10 players within the top 30 on the final 2013 FedEx Cup standings, the leading 10 players from within the top 30 on the final 2013 Race to Dubai rankings, the winner of the 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit, the winner of the 2012 Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit, and the winner of the 2012 PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

The increased number of South African players in the field will be drawn primarily from their position on the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday 18 November 2013, with a total of 5 players qualifying through either defending champion status, the previous season’s Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner, the 2013 FedEx Cup or the 2013 Race to Dubai, and there will be further opportunities to qualify right up to the week before the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

The winner of the 2013 South African Open and Alfred Dunhill Championship, played in the two weeks leading up to the Nedbank Golf Challenge, will gain exemption into the field.

The remainder of the field, if required, will be drawn from the leading available players on the Official World Golf Ranking as of Monday 18 November 2013.

There will also be a spot for the current number one and two on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit as of Monday 25 November 2013.

“With this new structure we have one of the most exciting fields in world golf,” said Alastair Roper, Tournament Director of the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

“We have provided opportunities for the best in world golf to have their shot at qualifying for Africa’s Major. We’ll also have incredible momentum right up to the week before the Nedbank Golf Challenge, with players battling it out for a place in our field.

“I have no doubt that we have strengthened the Nedbank Golf Challenge as one of the premier tournaments in world golf and the number one event in its time slot.”

Thulani Sibeko, Group Executive; Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs at Nedbank, expressed the sponsor’s delight with the new vision of the tournament.

“Since 1981 the Nedbank Golf Challenge has remained at the forefront of world golf and has become an iconic event on the South African sporting calendar. Through the enhancements to Africa’s Major we continue to make world-class golf happen and bring the world’s best golfers to Sun City.”

Keith Waters, European Tour Chief Operating Officer and Director of International Policy, said: “The European Tour has long had an excellent relationship with South Africa and the Sunshine Tour, and this news will further strengthen that bond.

“The Nedbank Golf Challenge is an exciting addition to The European Tour International Schedule and to have such a lucrative purse on offer very early in the 2014 season gives a new dimension to The Race to Dubai.

“We are grateful to the support of Nedbank, Sun International and the Sunshine Tour and look forward to a fantastic tournament in December.”

Selwyn Nathan, the Executive Director of the Sunshine Tour, said the new format of the Nedbank Golf Challenge will inspire a new generation of South African golfers as an event they want to compete in.

“The increased opportunity for our players is a major asset for the Sunshine Tour in terms of inspiring our current stars and also attracting other players to our tour. The Sunshine Tour has always prided itself on the fact that it can open doors for a player to compete in some of the biggest tournaments in world golf, and the 2013 Nedbank Golf Challenge will bring about an exciting conclusion to our season.”

The event was first staged in 1981 and won by American Johnny Miller.

Other former champions include –

Martin Kaymer (2012), Lee Westwood (2010-‘11), Ernie Els (1999-2000 & 2002) and the late, great Seve Ballesteros (1983-‘84).