Torrance out, but Sandy Lyle joins NMI field

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has been forced to withdraw just three days before the start of the seventh annual Nelson Mandela Invitational presented by Coca-Cola and hosted by Gary Player because of a hand injury.

The Scot, who is a past visitor to the tournament staged at the Arabella Country Estate, injured his hand two weeks ago. The injury forced him to pull out of the Arcapital Seniors Tour Championship in Bahrain after only nine holes and his hand has not responded to treatment.

“I am very disappointed to be missing the NMI,” Torrance said. “Suzanne and I had been looking forward to the event for ages but when I tried hitting a few balls yesterday for the first time since Bahrain I knew that I wouldn't be able to play.

“I am so sorry to let the tournament organisers down but I do hope that all concerned have a great event and I'd love to come back another year.”

His place among the Champions Tour participants will be taken by fellow Scot and former Masters champion Sandy Lyle. Speaking from Arabella, tournament host Gary Player said: “We are very sorry that Sam will not be able to make it, but are delighted that Sandy Lyle has agreed to join us at such short notice. It is wonderful to have another Major winner in the field supporting our event, which has as its focus the needy children of South Africa.”

Three-time Winter Tour Order of Merit winner Thomas Aiken was another late withdrawal after making it through to the final stage of PGA Tour School in America. While it is disappointing for the NMI to lose a player of Aiken’s calibre, it is a fantastic opportunity for the youngster to secure playing privileges in the United States.

Aiken will be replaced by the runner-up at the Coca-Cola Charity Championship, currently being played at Arabella. The winner of this Sunshine Tour event has already been guaranteed a place in the NMI.

Kelli Shean, who was a member of the victorious South African Women’s team that won the recent World Amateur Team Championship, has also been added to the field.

Shean, a member of the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, joins SA teammate Ashleigh Simon, 2007 European team Solheim Cup captain Helen Alfredsson and LPGA veteran Sally Little in what will be a strong showing of top women’s golf in this year’s event.

The tournament features a host of professional golfers, celebrities and businesspeople in a 36-hole fourball alliance competition.

The professionals also play in a separate 36-hole betterball medal competition.

The Gary Player-hosted Nelson Mandela Invitational will be played at Arabella Golf club near Hermanus in the Western Cape on 25 and 26 November. Acknowledged as South Africa’s premier sports charity event, the NMI has raised more than R15 million for its beneficiary charities, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Gary Player Foundation. Daily entrance tickets at R70 per adult (children under 18 free) are available through Computicket.