The 99th South African Open Championship will tee off at Pearl Valley Golf Estates near Paarl in the Western Cape from 17-20 December, with the next generation of global young golf stars seeking to take their place alongside the greats in the second oldest national Open in the game.

The €1-million South African Open, co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Tour, has over the decades established itself as the defining Championship for some of the biggest names in world golf.

This year´s Championship has attracted the attention of one of the strongest young fields in the tournament´s history.

Defending champion Richard Sterne is set to lead a youthful challenge from South Africa. In a groundbreaking summer in South Africa last season, Sterne distinguished himself among a wave of young South Africans including Charl Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, James Kamte and Branden Grace.

Both Schwartzel and Oosthuizen are currently ranked within the top 30 on the European Tour´s Race to Dubai rankings. Schwartzel returns to South Africa with five top-tens on the European Tour this season, while Oosthuizen collected six top–ten finishes, including two second places as he came close to a maiden victory on the Tour.

Kamte broke through with an international victory on the Asian Tour this year, and made his debut in the US Open at Bethpage State Park.

And Grace took a finish of tied sixth in the 2008 South African Open to launch a successful debut on the European Tour this season, including qualifying for and making the cut in his first Open Championship at Turnberry.

Sterne echoed the continued relevance of this Championship to generations of golfers when he said, "The South African Open is so prestigious and the names on the trophy are unbelievable, and to be on there myself has always been a dream and a goal".

The South African Open has witnessed such breakthroughs before. Bobby Locke was only 17 when he won his first South African Open in 1935. Gary Player was 21 when he won the first of his record 13 South African Opens in 1956. And Ernie Els was 23 when he claimed his first victory in the South African Open.

Els confirmed the Championship´s importance for a young golfer when he said, "The South African Open launched my career when I won it in 1992, so I owe this tournament a lot of gratitude".

"The South African Open remains one of the most sought–after titles in world golf because of the history and tradition it brings to the game, and its illustrious list of past champions," said Mosire Motsei, the Chief Executive of Championship promoter Maru Sport.

"This Championship is a breeding ground of future champions, and we are very excited that some of the brightest young stars in the game will make their way to Pearl Valley this December as they seek to make their mark," added Motsei.

The Sunshine Tour has similarly launched the careers of many an international star.

"The Sunshine Tour has always been a breeding ground for the next generation of champions in the game, and the South African Open has played a key role in this," said Gareth Tindall, the Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour.

"The global game is blessed with an incredible depth in young talent at this time, and we look forward to showcasing this through a Championship that can literally change a young golfer´s life."

The South African Open also continues its long and fruitful relationship with the European Tour.

"We have a wonderful association with the South African Open, and many of its champions have gone on to become champions on the European Tour as well and iconic figures in the game," said George O´Grady, the Commissioner of the European Tour.

Enver Hassen, the President of the South African Golf Association (SAGA), who are the custodians of the South African Open, added, "The last few years have been such an exciting time in the evolution of the South African Open. We have witnessed some of the biggest names in the game competing for this title, and now we look forward to seeing the champions of tomorrow."