Rabat
The 48th edition of the Hassan II Golf Trophy and the 27th edition of the Lalla Meryem Cup are scheduled to take place 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.
Organized by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation (FRMG) and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association, these two prestigious tournaments will be held simultaneously at the same venue, continuing a tradition of diversity established in 1993 by the late HM Hassan II, the esteemed founder of both events, as stated by the FRMG in a press release on its website.
The Hassan II Trophy, launched in 1971, has consistently attracted world-class professionals, becoming a hallmark event on the international golfing calendar. This year’s competition will feature 66 players from the PGA Tour Champions (PGATC), the American senior circuit, including renowned golf legends such as Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington, David Toms, and Ernie Els, all of whom have previously triumphed in the tournament.
The Lalla Meryem Cup, a prominent stage of the Ladies European Tour (LET), will showcase the elite of European women’s golf. Among the 108 participants expected to compete, five Moroccans are set to participate, including Ines Laklalech, the winner of the 2022 Lacoste Ladies Open de France, Maha Haddioui, a veteran of the LET for 11 years, and last year’s sensation Sofia Cherif Essakali, who at just 13 years old, made history by making the cut, setting a new record for precocity, according to the press release.
Additionally, the “Pro-am Hassan II Kids Cup by First Tee” will spotlight junior players. Teams comprising professional players from the PGATC and LET, alongside young golfers from the national “First Tee Morocco” program, will compete in a fun and educational atmosphere on Wednesday, February 21. Nine teams, each composed of two children and a professional, will challenge each other over nine holes on the green course using the Scramble format.
“These events further enhance the Kingdom’s appeal as a premier golfing destination, and the significant efforts undertaken by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation and the Hassan II Golf Trophy Association to ensure their success reflect a commitment to advancing the culture and practice of golf in Morocco,” concluded the statement.
