A plethora of golf’s biggest names will once again descend on the stunning Constance Belle Mare Plage for the MCB Tour Championship Mauritius from December 6-10.
The culmination of another thrilling Legends Tour season will see Major winners and Ryder Cup stars battling for the John Jacobs Trophy – and a share of a staggering $1,000,000 prize pool – on the dramatic Legend Course.
The event will also mark the culmination of this year’s Wapp Celebrity Series and Alliance Series, meaning amateurs and stars of the sport and entertainment world will join professional golfers on the fairways for the final time in 2023.
Leading the names battling to win the Legends Tour’s Order of Merit title is Peter Baker, who has already won a trio of events this season: the Irish Legends, the JCB Championship and the flagship Staysure PGA Seniors Championship.
Baker’s challengers will include Jersey Legends winner Richard Green and Brazilian Adilson da Silva, who has also recorded three wins so far on this year’s Tour.
Meanwhile, Alex Cejka is currently ranked second despite only playing four events – with one of them being a crucial victory at the Senior Open Championship in July. da Silva, former world No.1 Vijay Singh and Phillip Archer round up the top five.
This year, players will be contending for a prize pool that has been increased by $250,000 thanks to a contribution from event sponsors MCB. The top five participating players in the final Order of Merit standings after the tournament will also reap the rewards of a bonus $100k pot: $50,000 to the leader, $25,000 to the runner-up and $15,000, $7,500 and $2,500 to the third, fourth and fifth-placed finishers respectively.
At last year’s MCB Championship Mauritius, a dominant performance saw Thomas Bjørn record a seven-stroke victory. Bjørn, the 2018 European Ryder Cup captain, recovered from a difficult opening day to lead going into the final round before securing victory. James Kingston, who finished tied for second behind Bjørn, claimed the John Jacobs Trophy with a staggering ten top-10 finishes in the season.
The popular Legend Course is a challenge befitting of the occasion. Blessed with a picturesque location on the island’s east coast, the stunning par-72 layout will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. The course is characterised by prominent water hazards and tree-lined fairways, most prominently on the signature par-3 17th hole, which plays directly over water and holds the potential to make or break a round.
Phil Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the Legends Tour, said: “We are looking forward to returning to Mauritius for our end-of-season showdown after what has been another hotly contested year on the Legends Tour.
“Over the years, Constance Belle Mare Plage has proved a fitting venue for our MCB Tour Championship. It is a course that is perfect for showcasing the very best players on the Legends Tour and the event remains a highlight of the year.”
Matching the excitement of the race for the John Jacobs Trophy is the final of the 2023 Wapp Celebrity Series, which will be contested by qualifiers including the winners of the year’s first three events. Firm pre-tournament favourite Brian McFadden, of Westlife fame, was victorious in two of those events.
Former rugby and cricket player Liam Botham will also be taking part after topping the celebrity leaderboard at the Irish Legends in June. Also qualified are legendary striker Teddy Sheringham, Celtic hero Packie Bonner and 1996 Formula One World Champion Damon Hill.
Bonner will be looking to defend his title after securing $25,000 for his chosen charity last year, beating Hill by a single point in the Wapp Celebrity Series Grand Final at the MCB Tour Championship Seychelles.
Meanwhile, cricketer James Anderson, ex-footballer Gianfranco Zola and musician DJ Locksmith have been invited to complete the field in Mauritius.
Harrison added: “To add to the main professional event, our Wapp Celebrity Series will come to a thrilling conclusion with some of the leading names from sport and entertainment playing to support their nominated charities. We cannot wait to get back there.”