Gary Player - The Legend

Ryder Cup captain Pavin joins Player at Fancourt

Nov 2, 2010 | Filed Under: Events & Tournaments   

American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin will make his first tournament appearance in South Africa in 14 years when he joins an elite field for the Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, at The Links at Fancourt later this month.

Pavin, winner of the 1995 US Open and who recently captained America to a nail biting 14 ½ -13 ½ defeat in the Ryder Cup, said on Tuesday that he was delighted to be making his first appearance in this prestigious charity series.

“I am thrilled to be competing in the Gary Player Invitational at Fancourt in November. Mr Player is a legend whom I have long admired.

His grit and determination were characteristics I tried to emulate in my amateur and professional career. To be able to come spend time with him in South Africa is a dream come true for me. To be able to raise money for such a worthy cause is the icing on the cake.”

Player expressed his delight at Pavin’s inclusion in the field for the 18-21 November tournament.

“Corey has been a wonderful ambassador for American golf, and it is a major coup for us to have a Ryder Cup captain and former US Open champion in our field.

“Corey understands the spirit of giving back, which is the key aim of this tournament. Having him in the field as a winner of the US Open reminds me of when I won my first US Open in 1965 and donated my prize money to cancer research and junior golf development. Corey is that kind of person and does some wonderful work for charity, so we are delighted to have him join us at The Links.”

Despite the pressure of captaining a Ryder Cup team, Pavin remained highly competitive in 2010 with two top ten finishes on the PGA Tour and seven top tens on the Champions Tour.

He played on three Ryder Cup teams before assuming the role of captain. Pavin’s ability to score low was best evidenced by his eight-under-par 26 over nine holes on his way to an opening 61 and eventual victory in the US Bank Championship in 2006.

This year will mark the 11th anniversary of the Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, and the work of Black Knight International and The Player Foundation in raising funds for underprivileged children.

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