Tours look forward to unique collaboration in Morocco

From left: The European Tour’s Marketing Director Scott Kelly, Vice-President of the delegates Mustapha Zine, Ladies European Tour Executive Director Alexandra Armas and Mohamed Chaibi, President of the Hassan Trophy du Golf.

Alexandra Armas, Executive Director of the Ladies European Tour and Scott Kelly, Marketing Director of the PGA European Tour, expressed their delight at working side by side again through the unique simultaneous staging of the Trophee Hassan II and Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco this week.

For the third consecutive year, the events form part of both tours schedules and they are being played on neighbouring courses in Agadir, Morocco under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.

The male professionals will play the Trophee Hassan II over Golf du Palais Royal while the women will tackle nearby Golf de l’Ocean in the Lalla Meryem Cup from March 22-25. The events grow in popularity each year as word of Morocco’s legendary hospitality and quality golf courses has spread.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Armas said: “On behalf of the Ladies European Tour we are delighted to be here again for the 18th edition of the Lalla Meryem Cup, but for us it’s the third edition. It’s a good time to join the European Tour again.

“It’s a perfect place for our season this side of the world to start. We began this season in Australia, New Zealand and China and now we are back this side of the world.

“I would like to thank everyone at the Association Trophee Hassan and Lalla Soumia for all their efforts. It’s not an easy task, this challenge of running two tournaments in two places and even running two pro ams with 104 competitors on two courses is a credit to the organisation and we look forward to working with them this week.”

Kelly commented that he was delighted to return to Agadir and collaborate with the Ladies European Tour once again.

“The hospitality, the hotels, the charter organised for the players by Royal Air Maroc: it’s truly a pleasure to be back here in Morocco,” Kelly said. “The television coverage will convey the majesty of the Trophee Hassan throughout the world and it will be a wonderful showcase of Morocco. We are all certain to enjoy a wonderful week.”