Back in the line-up, which features professionals from both the Champions and regular Tours, as well as celebrities and businessmen, are Retief Goosen, Trevor Immelman and John Bland.

Joining them from the Champions Tour is recent Major winner Mark McNulty, as well as Bobby Lincoln who has won on the European Seniors Tour this year and ever-popular Zimbabwean Tony Johnstone. Making his début in the event is 56-year-old Australian Rodger Davis who had a stellar career on the European Tour, winning seven times and 19 times on the Australian Tour.

Among the regular-tour professionals joining Goosen and Immelman is Englishman and world number 14 Luke Donald, who has once again featured strongly on the PGA Tour this year including a top-10 in the US Masters.

Joining the confirmed list of celebrities is iconic comedian Cheech Marin, best known perhaps for the irreverent Cheech and Chong movies, but also famous for his roles in the animated classics The Lion King and Cars (as Ramone), as well as the television series (with Don Johnson) Nash Bridges.

Also in the celebrity line-up is Olympian legend Sir Steve Redgrave, who won gold medals in five consecutive Olympic Games, while former Premiership football star Ian Wright has also confirmed his participation.

At the same briefing, Executive Director of Coca-Cola South Africa Division Alex Maditsi confirmed Coca-Cola’s commitment to the tournament and to raising substantial funds for the two beneficiary children’s charities, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Gary Player Foundation: “Coca-Cola is very proud to be associated with two icons of South Africa in Nelson Mandela and Gary Player. We are committed to making a real difference in the lives of children in South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Invitational is an ideal way to meet these objectives.”

The Nelson Mandela Invitational is now in its eighth year, and has raised some R20 million for its beneficiary charities, making it South Africa’s premier golf charity event.