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Tommy Fleetwood is relishing the \u201cpretty surreal\u201d chance to write his name into the history books with a third straight victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge.<\/p>\n
Fleetwood defeated Sweden\u2019s Marcus Kinhult on the first play-off hole at the Gary Player Country Club in November 2019, but the Covid-19 pandemic meant he had to wait until 2022 to defend the title.<\/p>\n
A closing 67 on a weather-affected final day gave the Ryder Cup star a one-shot win over New Zealand\u2019s Ryan Fox and both men are back in Sun City 12 months on to seek victory in the 66-man field.<\/p>\n
Fleetwood, who can join an elite group which includes the likes of Tiger Woods and Sir Nick Faldo in winning the same DP World Tour event three times in succession, said: \u201cEver since the first time I came it\u2019s got a very special feeling to it driving into the gates of Sun City and it\u2019s such an historic event for a lot of us.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor my generation I guess, and for people older and younger too, but I remember it as the Million Dollar Challenge so it\u2019s always had such a high value.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet to be going for a third win seems pretty surreal, but we\u2019ll see what we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victory last year ended a three-year winless run for Fleetwood and the world number 15 again arrived in South Africa seeking a first win of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played really well,\u201d said Fleetwood, who lost in a play-off in June\u2019s RBC Canadian Open and posted eight other top-10s in 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should always look at the positives and I think this year has been arguably my most consistent year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very happy with how I\u2019ve been playing. Yes, there\u2019s not been a win, but I\u2019ve been very, very close. Things could have gone either way in certain events. [I\u2019ve] not won yet, but there\u2019s still a couple of events to go for the rest of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n
World number eight Max Homa is the top ranked player in the field and has been making the most of the chance to see the local wildlife, along with Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Thomas.<\/p>\n