Staff WriterIt came down to the wire at the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational on Sunday, as Irish musician Brian McFadden held his nerve on the final hole to lead his team to victory at the Gary Player Country Club.
Against the fitting backdrop of Gary Player’s 90th birthday celebrations, McFadden, joined by Sunshine Tour professional Luke Brown and business leaders Darren Roos and Surinder Arora, claimed the coveted Baobab Trophy after two intense days of golf at Sun City’s twin venues — the Gary Player Country Club and Lost City Golf Club.
The quartet’s win wasn’t handed to them easily. Springbok rugby legend Bryan Habana and his team — Sunshine Tour pro Malcolm Mitchell, along with businessmen Wilco and Henri van Deijl — stormed through the final round with a jaw-dropping 105 points, finishing just a single stroke shy on 45-under-par.
Even Mitchell could barely believe what they’d pulled off. “I’ve been playing golf a long time and I’ve never seen something like what we did today,” he said, still reeling from their charge up the leaderboard.
But McFadden’s side stood firm under pressure. A composed six-pointer on their last hole sealed the deal and ensured their names were etched into Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational history.
“It’s incredible, and to be able to achieve this on Mr Player’s 90th birthday makes it even more special,” said a beaming Darren Roos, whose joy mirrored the spirit of the event — a celebration not just of golf, but of generosity and goodwill.
For Surinder Arora, the moment was one of pure disbelief and delight. “I’m lost for words actually. This is a first win here for me, but it was all down to how well we played as a team,” he said.
McFadden, a familiar face at this charitable pro-am, couldn’t hide his pride at guiding his team home. “We were a great team for two days and dovetailed so well. I think Luke, our professional, saw some new shots from the rest of us that he probably didn’t even know you could play in this game, such as drivers out of bunkers and so on,” he joked.
Luke Brown, the Sunshine Tour professional who anchored the group, was equally humbled to have triumphed in an event so deeply tied to South African golfing royalty. “It was such a privilege to be here, and then to play in a team like this for two days. To then go on and win is absolutely amazing,” he said.
Now in its long-standing tradition, the Gary & Vivienne Player Invitational continues to blend sport, philanthropy, and camaraderie — values that Gary Player himself has championed for decades. The event forms part of the global Player Invitational Series, raising funds for the Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation, which supports underprivileged communities across South Africa.
Those wishing to honour Player’s 90th year are invited to join the campaign by sharing acts of kindness with the hashtag #90Acts and supporting the Foundation’s ongoing work.
Support the cause:
👉 garyandvivienneplayerfoundationdonate.org/southafrica
