Olazábal set for new European Legends Cup at Golf Almerimar

The European Legends Cup will take place on the Legends Tour at Golf Almerimar in Spain from September 13-15, 2024, with two-time Masters Champion José María Olazábal confirmed to tee it up.

The tournament is being financially supported and promoted by the European Tour Group with JGolf, the long-term promoters of two European Challenge Tour events, staging the 2024 European Legends Cup in Andalucía.

Golf Almerimar is a 27-hole golf resort designed by nine-time Major winner Gary Player and opens its doors for the first time to an international tournament by hosting the European Legends Cup, a tournament that will bring together 60 Legends Tour stars on the Almeria coast.

Keith Waters, Chief Operations Officer of the European Tour Group, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Legends Tour in the formation of the European Legends Cup as we look to increase playing opportunities for Legends Tour members.

“The European Tour Group continues to work closely with Ryan Howsam and the Legends Tour team as part of our joint venture, already supporting a successful return to Greece for the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy earlier this year, and we are looking forward to visiting the wonderful Golf Almerimar in September.

“Our thanks must also go to JGolf, who we have worked closely with on a several events for a number of years, for providing their expertise and delivering the European Legends Cup on the ground in Almeria.”

Luis Escorial Ayuso, President of Golf Almerimar, said: “We are very happy with the celebration of this tournament, it is the first time we will organise a competition at this level and the whole team is working hard to present the course and the facilities to the standard these players deserve. We have been waiting a long time for the occasion to welcome elite golfers and, finally, it has arrived.”

Phil Harrison, CEO of the Legends Tour, said: “We are proud to have another event on Spanish soil and to add such an iconic name as José’s to the field in his homeland. It has been a pleasure to work with and have the support of the European Tour Group to put on this tournament. JGolf have great experience in staging tournaments and we are excited to have what promises to be a fantastic event on a great golf course.”

European golfing legend Olazábal has already confirmed his participation in the European Legends Cup and is excited to tee it up in his home country.

“It is fantastic to have the opportunity to play more tournaments in Spain again,” he said. “In the ‘old days’ on the DP World Tour, sometimes there were as many as eight tournaments in one season. The players loved coming to compete in Spain for so many reasons, the great golf courses, the beautiful climate and, of course, for the gastronomy.

“I am so happy to come to Almerimar to play the European Legends Cup. I have heard many comments about the golf course and I am sure that Gary Player has created an amazing design. There will be a great field of players from the Legends Tour and it is always fun to come together with so many friends I have been competing with for such a long time and, as ever, the competition will be very tough and I will need to perform at my best. It is going to be an exciting tournament and I am looking forward very much to playing at Almerimar.”

The 27-hole resort weaves around lakes and palm trees with wide fairway yet demanding greens, providing a test of accuracy.

It is positioned within one of the most outstanding resorts in Andalucía, with the five star Hotel Golf Almerimar and the four star Hotel AR Almerimar, along with a marina with capacity for 1,100 boats up to 60 metres in length.

The Punta Entinas Natural Park is only 5 km away, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is less than an hour away and with  more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature that does not drop below 20ºC, Golf Almerimar ideal for playing golf all year round.