Following on from a successful two-week stint in South Africa, the Ladies European Tour now turns its attention to the pearl of the Indian Ocean.
A 120-player field will vie for the inaugural ‘MCB Ladies Classic – Mauritius’ this week, across three rounds.
Those 120 golfers will be cut to the top 60 following the conclusion of the second round on Saturday.
A first for women’s golf in Mauritius, the week is set to be a belter.
Here’s all you need to know about the event.
The course
The Legend Course at the Constance Belle Mare Plage is one of two courses situated on the hotel property, along with the Links.
The Legend, hosting this week’s tournament, was designed by South African Hugo Baiocchi, and is no stranger to hosting professional tournaments.
Opened in 1994, the course has hitherto hosted 14 editions of the MCB Tour Championship on the Legends Tour, with the 2015 edition suitably won by the legendary Colin Montgommerie.
Set along one of Mauritius’ finest beaches, the course will play 6024 yards (5510 meters).
A par-72, the course winds through indigenous forest and flirts with water on 14 of the holes.
Its signature 17th hole echoes that of TPC Sawgrass, a stunning par-3 over a lagoon inlet into a semi-island green, playing around 150 yards.
The par-4 fifth hole claims the number one spot on the stroke index. A fiendishly narrow hole, completely surrounded by water, the fifth requires a deadly straight drive to leave a long iron into a bunkered green.
Conditions at the moment are set relatively fair, with potential for wind and showers early in the week – but with microclimates such as the Mauritian ones, only time will tell.
The course will certainly be a test of both accuracy and mettle for the golfers this week, but the established field are coming into this tournament in fine form.
The field
Seven of the top ten in the Order of Merit rankings will be teeing it up this week.
Agathe Laisne will look to add a third win to her season, while Cassandra Alexander, Esme Hamilton, Alexandra Forsterling, Meghan Maclaren, Pia Babnik, and Cara Gainer are all hot in pursuit of the Frenchwoman.
Annabell Fuller, currently sitting 18th in the Order of Merit, joins a strong English contingent, while the South African Kirsten Rudgeley will look to build on her T2 at the Joburg Open two weeks ago.
33 nationalities will be represented out on the course this week, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will come out on top.
But one thing is for sure: with a number of incentives to play for, this week will see some of the best golf going around.
The stakes
The 54-hole format is not uncommon on the Ladies European Tour, or, ‘LET’.
Accommodating for the incredibly busy schedules on the LET, the condensed format creates a level of unpredictability amongst the competitors, increasing the chances for a ‘bandit’ to sneak in for a win.
There is more than enough incentive to play well this week – with points, pride and history all to play for.
Perhaps the most natural motivation from the week ahead is the chance to put a marker down in the tournament’s history, and become the first player to write their name on the new trophy come Sunday evening.
It goes without saying, winning earns you visibility. And in golf, visibility, or relevancy, is paramount to sponsorships, brand deals, and by that measure – personal growth.
But aside from the natural benefits, the material incentives are also worth noting.
The tournament boasts a prize fund of €400,000 – which is about the average pot for the LET, especially over 54-holes.
Also at stake are the ever-crucial ranking points, with positions to play for on the Order of Merit, Official Women’s World Golf Ranking (OWGR), and Solheim Cup qualification.
As the ninth tournament on this year’s LET, these points are vital to maintaining momentum ahead of a busy period in Europe.
But who has performed on the tour up until this point?
How things stand on the LET
Charley Hull came flying out of the blocks early season winning the PIF Ladies Saudi International at the beginning of February.
The world number four currently sits fifth in the Order of Merit rankings, but has only competed in two competitions on the LET, due to primary obligations on the LPGA.
Agathe Laisne sits atop the Order of Merit table, with two wins in six competitions, and a T2 at the Women’s Australian Open.
The 26-year-old’s dramatic playoff win at the Joburg Ladies Open saw her leapfrog local hero Casandra Alexandra, who slipped to second in the rankings.
Australian Kelsey Bennet, who won the Australian Women’s Classic in early March, occupies third in the table after seven events, and the German Alexandra Forsterling sits in sixth.
Hannah Green, despite loyalties to the LPGA, won back to back titles last month in her hometown, Australia, while Lauren Cloughlin won the Aramco Championship at Shadow Creek.
Last week’s Investec SA Women’s Open saw Esme Hamilton record her first win of the season, and move to fourth in the rankings.
Cara Gainer and Pia Babnik also come into the week in good form, occupying second and third respectively at the South African Open.
Current top 5 on the LET Order of Merit:
Agathe Laisne (FRA) – 1,321.70 points, 6 events played
Casandra Alexander (RSA) – 1,107.65 points, 6 events played
Kelsey Bennet (AUS) – 704.75 points, 7 events played
Esme Hamilton (ENG) – 596.14 points, 7 events played
Charley Hull (ENG) – 581.00 points, 2 events played
