Black Knight International Presents a Union of Golf and Giving: USA 2011

Tshabalala and Bartlett Help to Bring More Value to 2009 Gary Player Invitational

(George, South Africa) – Vincent Tshabalala and Shaun Bartlett will join an all-star line-up with top professional golfers and other sports and entertainment celebrities, as well as a host of top business executives, for this year’s Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola, which tees off at The Links at Fancourt from 26-29 November 2009.

Former French Open champion Tshabalala is set to make his seventh appearance at the 10th anniversary of Africa’s premier charity event, while Bartlett will be making his first.

Bartlett wasted no time in accepting his invitation to play alongside Sir Clive Woodward, cricket legend Barry Richards, SA tennis ace Kevin Curren, British entertainer DJ Spoony, Just Jinjer front man Ard Matthews, rising golf star Henni Zuel and BBC Sport presenter Sarah Stirk.

The former Bafana Bafana striker is elated at his good fortune to tee it up alongside Grand Slam champion Gary Player, reigning Masters champion Angel Cabrera and two-time US Open winner, Retief Goosen.

“I was very surprised when I got the call, but they didn’t have to ask me twice,” said Bartlett, who does duty at SuperSport as a soccer analyst since his retirement from the sport last year.

“It’s been a little crazy; I’ve been running around trying to find a dinner suit and shirt, but my clubs are already packed and I am just stoked at the opportunity to play this year.”

Although the official draw for this year’s tournament will only be done on Thursday, the eight-handicapper already has his fingers crossed on partnering with Player, Goosen or Cabrera.

“With respect to the rest of the professionals, it would be the ultimate dream come true to play in the biggest charity tournament in Africa with a Major winner,” enthused Bartlett. “I’m sure I will still have a fantastic time, no matter who I end up with. At the end of the day, we shouldn’t forget why we are all here.”

Raised by his grandmother in Factreton on the Cape Flats, Bartlett is no stranger to hard times, and embraces the chance to give back to the children in South Africa.

“There should be nothing more important than the welfare of the children in our country, and there can be no greater motivation for anyone to join Gary Player in his quest to raise money for underprivileged children.”

Not only will Bartlett add value to the tournament, this South African celebrity, who plays out of Eagle Canyon Country Club, should also add some good golf to proceedings.

Tshabalala has twice been in the winning team of the Betterball competition, first in 2004 with Ernie Els when he virtually carried his playing partners to the title and again in 2005, partnering Tim Clark.

“As someone who was able to rise from my circumstances due to the kindness and support of Gary Player, I am delighted to come back and support the great legend,” said Tshabalala.

“It is such an honour to be invited to support the Gary Player Invitational. It gives me the chance to meaningfully contribute to helping children have a better life. This is one of the best ways to raise much needed funds and I’ll keep coming back as long as the organisers still want me to play.”

Tshabalala is one of a handful of South Africa’s greatest black golfers who enjoyed success on both the European & European Senior Tours.

Not able to play the Southern African Tour in his prime, Tshabalala gained entry to international tournaments with assistance from Player. In 1976 he won the European Tour’s French Open, but his career was curtailed by injury. He made a comeback in the over-50 ranks and finished in the top twenty on the European Seniors Tour Order of Merit four times in the 1990s.

Ranked the number one long-iron player in South Africa in 1976, Tshabalala added that he enjoyed the experience of playing at The Links last year, and is looking forward to improving on his fifth place finish in the Betterball Team competition this year.

“This year I hope to be able to contribute even more to my team on the course and finish all of the holes. As long as I improve on last year, I’ll be happy.”

The 32 participants will combine in eight fourballs consisting of a senior professional, a professional, a celebrity and a businessman. The teams will compete over 36 holes in a Fourball Alliance with two scores to count in the charity pro-am event while the two professionals in each group will also compete in a separate Betterball Medal competition for first prize of R250,000.