The MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius: The Legends Tour’s season-ender returns to the Indian Ocean
- Matt Cooper
- 29 March 2022
The tournament heads back to the Legends Course at Constance Belle Mare Plage for its 10th anniversary edition.
Nearly two and a half years after Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin carded a brilliant 7-under-par 65 to turn a four shot pre-final round deficit into a three shot victory the Legends Tour is heading back to it home-from-home in Mauritius.
This week the circuit - previously the European Senior Tour - will return to the resort for a 12 time, but the tournament is celebrating its 10th edition.
The traditional season-ender amid the lush vegetation, volcanic rock and blue waters of the Indian island paradise will witness not only the 54 hole MCB Tour Championship, but also the awarding of the John Jacobs Trophy to the winner of the Order of Merit.
Stephen Dodd leads that race following his triumph in the British Senior Open at Sunningdale. He'll be pursued to the line by Thomas Levet, Markus Brier and James Kingston.
The last 4 winners on the Legends Tour 🏆🏆🏆🏆
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) March 16, 2022
Who will win the final tournament trophy up for grabs in the 2021 season at @MCBTourChamp? pic.twitter.com/HzpyVO3AEW
The 2020 event was cancelled and the 2021 edition delayed. Frustrating, no doubt but the wait is over.
The Legends Course
The primary track at Constance Belle Mare Plage, it is not a long course, but one that demands accuracy. Designed by South African Hugh Baiocchi, it's far from narrow, but errant shots are heavily penalised in dense woodland, volcanic rock, mangroves and/or the many water hazards.
Winners here have tended to be high quality: PGA Tour stars David Frost (twice) and Tom Lehman, plus the Ryder Cuppers Colin Montgomerie, Barry Lane and Sandelin. That Asian Tour legend Thaworn Wiratchant won on debut by eight shots was no great surprise: the two key factors (grainy greens and need for accuracy) were made for him.
The leading contenders
Stephen Dodd
A four-time winner on the circuit, the Welshman landed the last of those victories in last summer's British Senior Open at Sunningdale. It vaulted him on to the Champions Tour but, a reluctant traveller, he's struggled there with no top 20 in eight starts. He's encountered problems on this course, too, with just one top 25 (15th) in four tries.
This is what it means 🤩
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) December 4, 2021
Earlier in the year Stephen Dodd secured his maiden Senior Major Championship in The #SeniorOpen Presented by Rolex at Sunningdale Golf Club. pic.twitter.com/Ey6PvzBnMJ
Thomas Levet
The six-time European Tour winner has enjoyed a sparkling 2021 season, landing back-to-back victories in the Legends Open de France and Scottish Senior Open in September. He'll be making his tournament debut.
Markus Brier
The Austrian endured seven top three finishes on the circuit before finally lifting a trophy in the European Senior Masters last October. He's also struggled with the course, though. His two starts are yet to reap a top 25 finish.
James Kingston
The friendly South African left the Indian Ocean an exceptionally frustrated man in late 2019 after completing back-to-back runner-up finishes, his 17th and 18th top five finishes on the tour. He stuck to his task, however, plugged on, and landed both the WINSTONgolf Senior Open and Senior Italian Open last year.
Philip Price
The Welshman, famous for not only defeating Phil Mickelson in the 2022 Ryder Cup but celebrating with one of the all-time great fist-pumps, has found the course a neat fit for his game, earning three top four finishes. He's a two-time runner-up in the 2021 season.
We're counting down to the MCB Tour Championship - Mauritius 🏌 The final chapter in the 2021 Legends Tour season. Find out more about what the Legends will face 👉 https://t.co/sWg9f7vzdi pic.twitter.com/wn4HIvJ2bZ
— Legends Tour (@euLegendsTour) March 13, 2022
Paul Lawrie
A winner of the 2019 Scottish Senior Open early in his career on the circuit, the 1999 Open champion went 6-for-6 at landing top 10s in regular events this season, but he missed the cut in the Senior British Open. He finished seventh on his course debut in 2019, but did card the second low score in the first and final rounds - he was stymied by a poor 74 in round two.
Michael Campbell
The popular Kiwi, winner of the 2006 US Open, made a bold start in the senior ranks with second place in the 2019 PGA Seniors Championship, but is still seeking a first top 10 after nine starts in this season.
Barry Lane
A 12th course start for the well-travelled Englishman (a winner in 13 different countries no less) who was a two-time runner-up before claiming the title in 2016. Hasn't landed a tournament top 10 since then, however.
Jarmo Sandelin
The defending champion has made just five starts anywhere since thrashing a final round 65 for that triumph in last 2019. He is, however, 3-for-3 at finishing in the top 10 on the course.
The Legends Course
Thomas Bjorn
The big Dane is still making the odd main tour start, and enjoying the success of his younger compatriots, but the opportunity to contend again has fuelled his rookie campaign. Indeed, he landed a win in just his third start in Ireland. A course debutant.
Jeev Milkha Singh
The Indian golfing legend is making his senior debut and with something of a heavy heart after the death of both his parents in the last year. A four-time winner on the main tour he suffered with injury after the last of them in 2012 and is excited about this new start. "I think nothing would give my parents more joy than me doing well on the course again," he said.
John Bickerton
When he played on the European Tour this sort of test was right up his street: Bermuda greens, a resort island, and accuracy a huge asset. He's recorded two top threes in his rookie year including one in Italy (perhaps notably there were also in his ideal conditions).
