Nelson Mandela Invitational


The Nelson Mandela Invitational was a charity golf tournament which took place annually in South Africa from 2000 until 2006. It was named in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela, and hosted by South Africa's most successful professional golfer Gary Player. Player and Mandela appeared at the event almost every year to accept proceeds on behalf of the Children's Fund and the Player Foundation who were equal beneficiaries.
Just prior to the 2007 edition, the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund withdrew their support citing concerns over Player's involvement with the design of a golf course in Burma. Both Mandela and Desmond Tutu subsequently accepted Gary Player's position and statement on Burma and requested that the event continue, however the Children's Fund CEO refused to do so and thus forfeited on the name and future charitable funds raised through the tournament. The event continued as the Gary Player Invitational until 2013.
The field was made up of eight teams of four, each consisting of a senior professional, a regular tour professional, a celebrity and a businessman. The teams competed for the Alliance Medal, in which the best two scores of the four players counted on each hole. A second better-ball competition for the professionals was staged, with the best score of the two counting on each hole.

Winners

Pro-Am Team Tournament (2000–2013)

Gary Player Team Invitational:
YearWinners
2013Retief Goosen, Herschelle Gibbs, Anthony Leeming, Mike Dladla
2012Tim Clark, Kenny Dalglish, Alex Maditsi, Doug Jackson
2011Wessel Witthuhn, Shaun Pollock
2010John Cook, Sergio García, Sinead Kenny, Dwight Yorke
2009Thomas Aiken, Vincent Tshabalala, DJ Spoony, Abdullah Al Naboodah
2008Retief Goosen, Costantino Rocca, Ines Sastre, Alan Pearson
2007Luke Donald, Sally Little, Alex Maditsi, Marc Player


Nelson Mandela Team Invitational:
YearWinners
2006Sandy Lyle, Omar Sandys, Ashleigh Simon, David Lyons
2005Gary Player, Trevor Immelman, Ahmad Rashad, Alex Maditsi
2004Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday, Inés Sastre, Doug Jackson
2003Lee Westwood, Simon Hobday, Mark Boucher, Carl Ware
2002Hugh Baiocchi, Deane Pappas, Gary Lineker, Dave King
2001Simon Hobday, Martin Maritz, Nick Mallet, Doug Jackson
2000Gary Player, Don Gammon, Julius Erving, Dave King

Winners

Professional Tournament (2000–2011)

Gary Player Invitational
YearWinners
2011George Coetzee and Mark [James (golfer)|Mark James]
2010John Cook and Sergio García
2009Ángel Cabrera and Tony Johnstone
2008Bobby Lincoln and Garth Mulroy
2007Sally Little and Luke Donald


Nelson Mandela Invitational
YearWinners
2006Bobby Lincoln and Retief Goosen
2005Vincent Tshabalala and Tim Clark
2004Vincent Tshabalala and Ernie Els
2003Lee Westwood and Simon Hobday
2002Hugh Baiocchi and Deane Pappas
2001Simon Hobday and Martin Maritz
2000Retief Goosen and Allan Henning