Nelson Mandela Championship shifts dates to accommodate state funeral

DURBAN, South Africa – The Nelson Mandela Championship will begin and end one day early next week to recognize the state funeral for the late president. 

This is the second year the tournament is part of the official European Tour schedule. It was scheduled for Dec. 12-15 at Mount Edgecombe Country Club. The European Tour and Sunshine Tour say it will now start on Wednesday and end on Saturday. 

An official memorial service for Mandela is scheduled for Tuesday at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, where Mandela made his last public appearance at the closing ceremony of the 2010 World Cup. His body will lie in state from Wednesday through Friday in Pretoria. The state funeral and burial at Qunu will be on Sunday. 

The tournament honors Mandela's charity work through the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund.