Golf: Rabat to Host 48th Hassan II Trophy, 27th Lalla Meryem Cup on Feb. 19-24

07 February 2024 Printable Version

Rabat - The 48th edition of the Hassan II Golf Trophy and the 27th edition of the Lalla Meryem Cup will be held from February 19 to 24, 2024 at the Dar Es Salam Royal Golf Club in Rabat, under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI.

The simultaneous staging on the same site of these two competitions, organized by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (FRMG) and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, perpetuates a tradition of diversity established in 1993 by the late HM Hassan II, illustrious founder of the two tournaments, said the FRMG in a statement published on its website.

The Hassan II Trophy has attracted world-class professionals since its creation in 1971, the statement noted, adding that this prestigious competition, which has become a fixture on the international golfing scene, will bring together 66 players from the PGA Tour Champions (PGATC), the American senior circuit, which features such legends of world golf as Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, David Toms and Ernie Els, all historic winners of the tournament.

The Lalla Meryem Cup, a popular stage of the Ladies European Tour (LET), will bring together the European elite of women's golf. Among the 108 participants, 5 Moroccans are expected to take part in this competition, including Ines Laklalech, winner of the Lacoste Ladies Open de France 2022, Maha Haddioui, who has been on the LET for 11 years, and last year's sensation Sofia Cherif Essakali, who, at just 13 years of age, made the cut, setting a new precociousness record, according to the statement.

As usual, juniors are also in the spotlight at the "Pro-am Hassan II Kids Cup by First Tee". Teams made up of professional players from the PGATC and LET and young golfers from the national "First Tee Morocco" program will compete in a fun and instructive atmosphere on Wednesday February 21. 9 teams made up of two children and a professional will challenge each other over 9 holes on the green course using the Scramble formula.

"These events reinforce the Kingdom's tourist appeal as a golfing nation par excellence, and the major efforts made by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association to make them a success attest to a desire to further promote the culture and practice of golf in Morocco", the statement concluded.