The PGA Tour Champions schedule is expanding geographically for 2020, moving into Africa for the first time with a five-year deal to host The Morocco Champions in the north African kingdom.
The tour and the Association Trophee Hassan II (ATH) announced the formation of the event, which will be played Jan. 30 - Feb. 1, culminating in a Saturday finish for the 66-player field vying for a $2 million purse. Host Samanah Golf Club is a 2008 Nicklaus Design which features amazing views of the Atlas Mountains.
“We are excited to bring PGA Tour Champions golf to Morocco as we partner with the ATH for what is truly a historic moment in our sport,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady in a release. “As we enter 2020, the globalization of golf is at an all-time high and it’s important for us to look at opportunities to bring these legends of the game to fans around the world. The Morocco Champions will allow us to do just that and we’re eager to build a tremendous debut tournament.”
The Association Trophee Hassan II operates a number of international golf events in Morocco, including the Trophee Hassan II on the European Tour and the concurrent Lalla Meryem Cup, played simultaneously at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam. The country has welcomed the European Challenge Tour and has staged other significant golf events.
The Morocco Champions will be the second tournament in the 2020 PGA Tour Champions season, presumably after the season-beginning Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii. This will be the first PGA Tour-sanctioned stroke-play event on the continent of Africa.
