Staff WriterIf you were designing the perfect playground for the ‘NTT DATA Pro-Am’, you’d probably sketch something that looks a lot like Fancourt in February: three pristine golf courses, oceans of mountain air, and a guest list that reads like a South African golfing hall of fame with a few prodigies sprinkled on top. From 12–15 February, that’s exactly what the game is getting.
The Big Easy Comes Home
Ernie Els, four-time Major champion and former world number one, will lead the cream of South African golf at the NTT DATA Men’s and Ladies’ Pro-Ams brought to you by Standard Bank. The Big Easy has tossed his name back into a field that already had a healthy swagger for the men’s event, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and the HotelPlanner Tour.
“I have such wonderful memories of this tournament throughout my career, and I’m looking forward to playing in it again. They have been such a loyal and longstanding partner of the Sunshine Tour. The Sunshine Tour is where I started my career and I’ve always come back to play here whenever I can. It’s going to be great to see some old faces and a few of the youngsters on the Tour as well,” said Els.
For a man whose backswing has more air time than some TV pilots, this is familiar territory. Fancourt is stitched into his storyline, and when he turns up it tends to mean two things: the crowds get bigger and the young guys suddenly realise how small their trophy cabinets are.
Rising Stars And A Relentless Defender
Els won’t be short of company with ambitions of their own. He’ll be joined in one of the Sunshine Tour’s most historic tournaments by rising star Casey Jarvis, who’s been treating leaderboards like speed bumps, winning twice in three weeks on the Sunshine Tour this season.
Then there’s defending champion Wilco Nienaber, who didn’t just win last year – he lapped the field.
With his dominant seven-shot victory last year, Nienaber joined an exclusive club of only four players to have won this title twice in its 31-year history, including Nick Price, Darren Fichardt and Oliver Bekker.
“I’m excited to return to Fancourt to try and defend my title. It’s a privilege to be one of the few multiple winners of such a prestigious tournament. I love Fancourt, and every single one of the golf courses there,” said Nienaber.
When a man that long off the tee says he loves every course, what he really means is, “There’s room for me to swing as hard as I like.” That’s not great news for anyone trying to take his crown at the 2026 NTT DATA Pro-Am edition of this event, but it’s excellent news for spectators.
Ladies’ Field Stacked With Class And Storylines
Across the fairways, the NTT DATA Ladies’ Pro-Am brought to you by Standard Bank has quietly turned into one of the must-watch weeks on the Sunshine Ladies Tour calendar – and this year’s field might be its best yet.
Danielle du Toit is back to defend her title after she beat Lee-Anne Pace in a playoff last year. Pace returns too, armed with more silverware than most pro shops. She is the most successful golfer in the history of the Sunshine Ladies Tour, a former champion of this tournament, and she’s added three runners-up finishes here for good measure.
And because every good story needs a next chapter, there’s young star Kaiyuree Moodley, last season’s R&A Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, coming back to the scene of one of the biggest weeks of her life.
“It was a dream to make my professional debut in this event last year, and to play at Fancourt. They have fantastic golf courses there. We also get to play with the Sunshine Tour professionals, and that in itself was a learning experience for me. I’m really excited to go back. Watching Danielle win it last year and what it did for her career, I remember thinking it would be amazing to win this tournament one day.”
That’s the magic of this week in a nutshell: rookies and legends sharing fairways, with careers changing in real time.
A 31-Year History Of Heavy Hitters
The strength of both fields underlines what Fancourt has become in this 31-year saga: a four-day celebration of golf excellence. On the men’s side, this tournament has produced champions who went on to become Major winners, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars, and former world number ones.
Since 2014, the ladies’ tournament has grown into a cornerstone of the Sunshine Ladies Tour, a place where future Order of Merit winners and global campaigners sharpen their games – and, increasingly, their bank balances.
This year, the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour professionals will compete for a total purse of R7 million over three golf courses – the Montagu, Outeniqua and the iconic Links at Fancourt.
The Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals, meanwhile, will be playing for an increased purse of R2.5 million as they tackle the Montagu and Outeniqua courses. When sponsors talk about “backing women’s sport”, this is what it looks like when the cheques clear.
Sponsors Putting Their Money Where The Fairway Is
Behind the scenes, the ‘NTT DATA Pro-Am’ banner stands for more than just birdies and TV time. For NTT DATA and Standard Bank, it’s become a flagship platform for golf’s growth across Africa.
“The 2026 NTT DATA Pro-Am represents a meaningful opportunity for us to continue elevating the sport across Africa,” says Thembeka Ngugi, Head of Marketing, NTT DATA Middle East and Africa.
“This tournament brings together world-class talent, inspiring young athletes and seasoned professionals alike, in an environment that celebrates excellence, diversity and community. Our partnership with Standard Bank strengthens this vision even further and together, we are creating opportunities, expanding access, and showcasing the transformative impact that sport and collaboration can have across the continent.”
Standard Bank’s involvement matches that rhetoric with resources.
“We are immensely proud to support the NTT DATA Pro-Am series as the headline sponsor this year. As an organisation, we have an abiding belief in the power of sports to change lives for the better. Amongst other things, through this sponsorship, we aim to drive diversity, encourage inclusion, and support the aspirations of the talent participating.
The increased prize money for the ladies’ tournament, along with the quality of participants across both fields, affirms this ambition. We hope this tournament will serve as a catalyst for future aspiring golfers of all genders and backgrounds,” says Steve Barnes, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for South Africa at Standard Bank.
In other words, this is not just another logo on the tee box. It’s a long-term bet on what golf can do well beyond the ropes.
Celebrities, Cameras And A Festival Feel
As if Ernie, Wilco, Danielle, Lee-Anne and company weren’t enough, both tournaments will also feature a showcase of sports stars and celebrities, adding a healthy dose of star-spotting between shots.
And for those not fortunate enough to be strolling the Montagu, Outeniqua or Links in person, there’s live coverage on SuperSport, beaming Fancourt’s fairways into living rooms across the continent.
South African golf has always had a flair for drama, and the NTT DATA Men’s and Ladies’ Pro-Ams brought to you by Standard Bank have become one of its favourite stages. With legends returning, young guns surging and the ‘NTT DATA Pro-Am’ brand now synonymous with serious prize funds and serious ambition, Fancourt in mid-February is about as close as golf gets to a sure thing.
