The Sunshine Tour has launched a new event, Nelson Mandela Championship, which will be the first on the 2013 European Tour.
Race to Dubai: New event on the list
The tournament, co-sanctioned by the European Tour, will take place from December 9-12 and will be held in either the Eastern Cape's Nelson Mandela Bay or Durban in South Africa.
Organisers also confirmed that the 72-hole event with a field of 156 players will form part of the Race to Dubai - the season-long money list - and will have a minimum purse of €1million
"It will be held either at Royal Durban Country Club or Humewood Golf Club," executive director of the Sunshine Tour Selwyn Nathan said.
He added: "We're hoping to tie up a deal that is a minimum of three years."
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.
"We are very honoured to have a new tournament on our Tour that is aimed at advancing the work of Mr Nelson Mandela as carried out by the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund," Nathan said.
"We would like to thank the promoters and sponsors for their vision in supporting this event and look forward to being associated with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund in furthering its important aims."
Half the field will be exempt for the tournament while about 70 local players from the Sunshine Tour.
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