The European Tour is conducting two golf tournaments this week in very different parts of the world.

While the big names are in Sun City, South Africa for the Nedbank Golf Challenge, the Hong Kong Open is also being played.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge was first played in 1981 with Johnny Miller taking home $500,000 from the $1 million purse. It is currently a co-sanctioned event on the European and Sunshine Tours.

Past winners in the Nedbank include, Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk and Lee Westwood.

Some of golf’s biggest names have trekked to the bottom of the “dark continent” to compete for $1.25 million first place check.

Defending champion Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Charl Schwartzel, Ernie Els, Louis Oosthuizen and Henrik Stenson are just a few of the stars in the field this week in South Africa.

Luke Donald is coming off his first win of 2013 at the Dunlop Phoenix in Japan two weeks ago. He leads at five-under par through his first 11 holes at the Nedbank Challenge.

Heavy rains disrupted the golf in the first round and play was halted for the day with all 30 players on the course.

Jamie Donaldson is two shots back at three-under par through 12 holes and Thomas Bjorn is tied with him through his first six holes.

Players will return to the Gary Player Country Club early on Friday morning to complete the first round and begin play in the second round.   

David Higgins’ first round six-under par 64 leads the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The 137-man field in Hong Kong is playing for a total purse of $1.3 million.

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez posted a first round even-par 70 and is T-44.

The Hong Kong Open has been played since 1959 and is a co-sanctioned event on the European and Asian Tours.