NEWS
The storylines on the Legends Tour simply could not be more beautifully poised as the circuit arrives in Mauritius for the season-ending
MCB Tour Championship.
As many as three titles will be decided during the championship at Constance Belle Mare Plage on the edge of the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean from December 6th-10th; the prestigious MCB Tour Championship title itself as well as the MCB Road to Mauritius rankings number one spot and Barry Lane Rookie of the Year.
The MCB Road to Mauritius title – the ultimate accolade on the Legends Tour as it rewards consistency throughout the season – will go down to the wire because of victory for Adilson da Silva in last week’s Vinpearl DIC Legends Vietnam.
The Brazilian clinched a three-shot victory at the inaugural tournament to claim his fourth win of an incredible season and deny long-time leader Peter Baker victory in the MCB Road to Mauritius title chase with a week to spare.
Da Silva shot a final-round 68 to get to 10-under-par and carry off an impressive wire-to-wire triumph at Vinpearl Golf Nha Trang.
He has now won four times on the Legends Tour this season, equalling the tour record, and is now just 264.2 points behind three-time winner Baker in the MCB Road to Mauritius – with 675 points are available in the event at Belle Mare Plage.
“This week is going to be great,” he said.
“Mauritius is such a wonderful place. I really love the course at Belle Mare Plage, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve been working really hard on my mental side, that’s been helping me. My swing feels pretty much the same, but I think mentally I feel more comfortable.”
Da Silva has earned the nickname ‘the King of the Jungle’ this year with all his wins coming on tree-lined courses. He was last year’s Rookie of the Year and his accuracy off the tee is perfectly suited to the Legends course
at Constance Belle Mare Plage.
However Baker, the former European Ryder Cup player, still holds the advantage and he knows if he finishes ahead of his Brazilian opponent, he will clinch the season-long race.
The rookie of the year battle will also be decided under the tropical sunshine of Mauritius, with Greig Hutcheon going up against Patrik Sjoland. The Swede recorded his first Legends Tour win at the European Senior Masters and like Hend will make his debut at Belle Mare Plage this week.
That’s the second title that will be decided on the widely-acclaimed Hugh Baiocchi-designed Legends course. The third will of course be the MCB Tour Championship itself. Defending champion Thomas Bjorn will be the favourite to retain the title he won in such commanding style 12 months ago.
In addition to Baker and Da Silva, Sjoland, the Danish former Ryder Cup player and captain will expect a challenge from last year’s MCB Road to Mauritius champion James Kingston and former Ryder Cup player Joakim Haeggman, who finished in the top 10 at Constance Belle Mare Plage last year.
As well as the race for these titles among the professionals, there will also be a fierce battle among the celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sport competing for The Celebrity Series - while amateur golfers will contest the Alliance Series.
Brian McFadden of Westlife fame booked his place in the Indian Ocean by winning two of this year’s celebrity events, and he will compete against legendary England cricketer James Anderson, iconic ex-Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, former Chelsea and Italy striker Gianfranco Zola, ex-Manchester United forward Teddy Sheringham, 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill, Celtic icon Pat Bonner (the defending champion), musician DJ Locksmith and ex-rugby and cricket player Liam Botham
