Lalla Meryem Cup winner Nuria Iturrios (left) with Spain’s Gorge Campilo who claimed the Trophée Hassan II at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam last year. Picture by TRISTAN JONES
THE European Tour has confirmed the postponement of the Trophée Hassan II while the Scandinavian Mixed has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Scandinavian Mixed was set to be a ground-breaking event – hosted by Sweden’s two most successful golfers Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam – with male and female players competing head-to-head in the same event for the first time.
The Scandinavian Mixed was scheduled to take place at Stockholm’s Bro Hof Slott Golf Club, from June 11-14, , with men and women battling for one prize fund and one trophy.
The Ladies European Tour’s Lalla Meryem Cup – which was scheduled to take place concurrently with Trophée Hassan II, at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco from June 4-7 – has also been postponed.
The decision to postpone both events in Morocco was taken following consultation between the Hassan II Trophy Association, chaired by Prince Moulay Rachid, the European Tour and the LET.
Following this season’s cancellation – which was agreed in consultation with all parties – the event will still be included on the European Tour and Ladies European Tour schedules from 2021.
European Tour chief executive Keith Pelley said: “We will continue to monitor the global situation in relation to coronavirus and evaluate its impact on all our tournaments, with public health and well-being our absolute priority.
“We thank all stakeholders involved in Trophée Hassan II and the Scandinavian Mixed – including His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid and the Hassan II Trophy Association, the Ladies European Tour and Henrik Stenson and Annika Sorenstam.
“Discussions regarding the possible rescheduling of all postponed tournaments will remain ongoing until we have clarity on the global situation.”
LET chief executive Alexandra Armas, said: “We are deeply grateful for the incredible support and flexibility shown by our partners at this challenging time, and would like to thank the Hassan II Trophy Association – and the European Tour – for their unwavering commitment to working together.
“As we monitor the global situation with regards to COVID-19, we continue to wish for the health and safety of the entire golfing community.”
The Ladies European Tour schedule for 2020 featured some 24 tournaments – an increase of four from 2019 – and an €18million prize fund up €4.5million. Picture by TRISTAN JONES
LET schedule’s record prize fund
THE Ladies European Tour schedule for 2020 featured a record-breaking prize fund of almost €18million spread across 24 tournaments to mark a new decade brimming with optimism.
As well as the increase of €4.5million in prize money – the LET unveiled the Race to the Costa del Sol with a bonus pool at the end-of-season Andalucía Costa del Sol Open Ladies Spanish Open, in January.
The top three finishers on the Race to the Costa del Sol rankings were set to share the bonus pool worth an extra €250,000.
But only the first three events were played before the coronavirus epidemic became a pandemic in March, forcing the first-ever Saudi Ladies Championship at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club to be postponed.
The Evian Championship – one of the five scheduled Majors of the season – has moved from its slot in late July to the first week of August – the date originally chosen for the Toyko Olympics Games.
It means the world’s top players – if the Evian can still go ahead on its new date – will then head to Scotland for the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at North Berwick, from August 13-16.
