4 days ago
Former Masters champion delighted to sign up to new NI Legends event at Galgorm
The Welsh wizard, who was also World No.1 during a remarkable career, will headline a field of former Major champions and Ryder Cup players for the Legends Tour event held at Galgorm on August 29-31.
It will be the 20th professional event hosted by Galgorm, which previously was the location for the ISPS HANDA World Invitational on the DP World Tour and LPGA Tour, as well as the NI Open which was held on various tours.
And Woosnam, who captained Europe to Ryder Cup success in Ireland at The K Club in 2006, is thrilled to get the chance to come and play at the event in two month's time.
'I am delighted to be heading back to Ireland to compete in this new Legends Tour event. Golf in Northern Ireland is thriving, especially with Rory McIlroy completing golf's Grand Slam recently and The Open returning to Royal Portrush next month,' said the World Golf Hall of Famer.
'Galgorm enjoys a great reputation as one of the country's best tournament venues and I am looking forward to competing here in August. The Pro-Am format for the NI Legends lends itself to a great week where amateurs get the chance to compete alongside the professionals.'
The Legends Tour, formerly known as the European Seniors Tour, is open to professionals aged 50 or over and its events regularly feature a wealth of talent including the likes of Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley, Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal.
As well as the main tournament, the event will also feature a Pro-Am that will see several high-profile names compete alongside the professionals the day before the event begins.
'We are delighted to be bringing the Legends Tour to Northern Ireland and the wonderful Galgorm. It's a venue with a long history of hosting professional tournaments and I'm sure it will present a real challenge to all the players,' said Legends Tour chief executive Phil Harrison.
"Northern Ireland is a superb destination for golf and we are looking forward to playing in front of such knowledgeable and supportive fans, who I'm sure will welcome the opportunity to watch legends of the game close-up.'
Aine Kearney, interim chief executive at Tourism Northern Ireland, commented: 'We are excited to welcome the Black Desert NI Legends this August, in what is an incredibly exciting year for golf in Northern Ireland. The NI Legends Open, held at Galgorm's championship Castle Course, showcases that Northern Ireland is indeed Made for Golf.
'Tourism NI is proud to support this world-class tournament, which draws golf enthusiasts from across the globe. Events like this not only celebrate our rich heritage and breathtaking landscapes but also showcase the superb facilities we offer to golfers worldwide. We're looking forward to an unforgettable experience for players and spectators alike.'
Gary Henry, group golf director at the Galgorm Collection, added: 'The Black Desert NI Legends is something of a tournament milestone as its the 20th professional event to be staged at Galgorm, dating back to 2010 and including the 2020 Irish Open.
"We are delighted to be working with the Legends Tour and title sponsors Black Desert on this exciting new event where many household names and former Major champions will be on show at Galgorm in August.
"With the Pro-am format we also look forward to welcoming a number of Northern Ireland soccer legends who will take on an All-Star legends team to compete for the Legends Cup.'
