Padraig Harrington and Darren Clarke will form part of an illustrious 18-man field when they tee it up in the $1.2million Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa tomorrow.
The two Irishmen, alongside Spain's Sergio Garcia, make-up the three top-ranked Europeans to receive invites and will join 15 players who remained in South Africa following last week's Presidents Cup in Fancourt.
World number two and home favourite Ernie Els will be out to defend his title in Sun City one week after he was involved in a high drama conclusion to the Presidents Cup.
After the International side finished level on points with the US, Els was nominated to go head-to-head against Tiger Woods. However, after three holes of the sudden death playoff, and fading light, it was decided the fairest result was to share the Cup. The unprecedented move is likely to see a playoff situation discarded for future encounters.
This week Harrington travels to a venue which holds fond memories as the Dubliner shot the unofficial course record 62 at Sun City in 2001.
In Garcia's case, he will be out to eradicate the memory of last week's final round collapse to lose the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan. The Spaniard held the overnight lead going into the last day but a closing 78 opened the door for Thomas Bjorn to win as Garcia dropped back to sixth.
The four-day strokeplay invitational event has an increased field, which means the first prize has been reduced from $2million to $1.2million. But tournament organiser Philip Georgas feels there is still a huge incentive for the players.
"The reduction has not affected the attitude of the players in the slightest," said Georgas. "If anything, the smaller gap in prize money between the winner and the places makes it a little fairer in their eyes, as we have also increased the prize money for second, third, fourth and fifth significantly."
The Nedbank Challenge marks a three-week run of competition for the Irish pair who will go on to compete in the Asian Open in Hong Kong next week and then in Woods' invitational Target World Challenge event in California the following week before breaking-off for Christmas.
Nedbank Golf Challenge field:
Vijay Singh (Fij)
Ernie Els (RSA)
Retief Goosen (RSA)
Kenny Perry (US)
Padraig Harrington (Ire)
Darren Clarke (NIre)
Nick Price (Zim)
Stuart Appleby (Aus)
Robert Allenby (Aus)
Charles Howell III (US)
Adam Scott (Aus)
Jay Haas (US)
Chris DiMarco (US)
Jerry Kelly (US)
Sergio Garcia (Spa)
Fred Funk (US)
Stephen Leaney (Aus)
Tim Clark (RSA)