JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has attracted some big names to the 2010 Nedbank Golf Challenge to be played at Sun City in South Africa' s North West province from Dec.1-5, it was announced on Thursday.

Sport24 in South Africa reported that the return of Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington, together with the entry of UK Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, will ensure the tournament can boast a number of major titles in its field.

Els (3), Harrington (3), Retief Goosen (2) and Oosthuizen (1) bring the total of golf's big-four championships to nine.

Els will be making his first appearance at the competition since 2007.

The three-time NCG champion and all-time leading money winner at the event is a huge coup for the organizers.

Tournament director Alastair Roper said he is thrilled at the quality of the field, with potential world No 1 Lee Westwood also among the 12.

"We were always hopeful that we could secure the participation of the very best players for what is a very special tournament, and I am pleased to say that we have achieved this," said Roper.

The 12-man field is: Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Louis Oosthuizen,

Lee Westwood, Robert Allenby, Tim Clark, Edoardo Molinari, Justin Rose, Ross Fisher, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Anders Hansen.

Prize money has been increased to five million U.S dollars, with the winner taking $1,250,000 U.S dollars. Last place earns 250,000 U.S dollars.