(Golf) President of Coca Cola in Africa Therese Gearhart says they are very thrilled to associate themselves with such a big brand the Gary Player Invitational (GPI). Speaking at the Coca Cola headquarters in Parktown earlier today, Gearhart also announced a three year extension with Black Knight International to stage Africa’s premier Charity golf event at the Lost City Golf Course which will be the host for the next three years…

Meanwhile GPI tournament director Marc Tudhope was lost for words but one thing for he says they want to surpass the R4 million they made in Zimbali last year…

Even though the Black Night made a name for himself, it wasn’t jolly in the beginning as he lost his mother at the age of eight and he had to rely on the unskilled farm workers. And he says he made a vow to himself that once he becomes a champion he will give back to the destitute families…

With event moving to a new venue, Gary Player was full praise of the Lost City Golf Course and he reckons it’s much tougher than it seems…

Meanwhile the hype is already building for the November event with confirmation of the former women’s number 1 Annika Sorenstam of Sweden. However in the absence of top ranked South Africans Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace due to the Dubai commitments Tuhope says the seasoned international golfers have credential to spark the event…

And in the celebrity segment, Kenny Dalglish (Former Liverpool manager), Boris Becker (Former Tennis number 1) and Samuel L Jackson (Actor) will make a comeback…

Following successful GPI events this year in Augusta and London, the next leg of the GPI series takes to Shanghai on November 4 and 5 before ending the year at Sun City’s Lost City Country Club and The Palace Hotel with a star-studded line-up. Journalist: Tshepo Khuzwayo