Rabat is getting ready for a big week of golf. The city will host the 50th edition of the Hassan II Golf Trophy from 21 to 23 May at the historic Royal Golf Dar Es Salam.
The tournament, backed by King Mohammed VI and chaired in practice by Prince Moulay Rachid, is one of Morocco’s long-running sporting events and has become a familiar stop on the senior golf circuit.
Run by the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Golf, it is now part of the PGA TOUR Champions, which brings together some of the sport’s best-known players over the age of 50.
This year’s event will feature 66 golfers competing over three rounds on the Red Course, one of the most well-known layouts in the country.
The tournament has a long history. It was created in 1971 by King Hassan II and has since hosted many of golf’s biggest names, including Gary Player, Severiano Ballesteros and Sir Nick Faldo.
The defending champion, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, returns after winning in 2025. He will be aiming to keep hold of the traditional khanjar trophy.
He will be joined by last year’s runner-up Steven Alker, who is back with clear hopes of going one step further this time.
The field is strong, with five major winners who together hold 11 Grand Slam titles. It also includes four members of the World Golf Hall of Fame and six past winners of the tournament. Players come from 16 different countries.
One of the biggest draws is Ernie Els, a four-time major winner who also won in Rabat in 2008.
Former world number one Vijay Singh returns as well. He won the event in 1991 and remains one of its most memorable champions.
Colin Montgomerie, who won in 1997 and was a major figure in European golf, is also part of the lineup.
Double Masters winner José María Olazábal adds further experience and history to the field.
Recent winners are back too, including Stephen Ames, Ricardo González and Jiménez, covering the last three editions since the event joined the PGA TOUR Champions schedule.
Other familiar names include Justin Leonard, the 1997 Open champion, and Y.E. Yang, who won the PGA Championship in 2009.
