The Legends Tour’s three Celebrity Ambassadors, the winners from the three qualifying events and the highest ranked available players on the Order of Merit not otherwise exempt will all travel to the Indian Ocean to compete for a share of a £100,000 prize fund for charity, with the winner earning the £25,000 first prize for their chosen charity.
TV presenters and journalists Georgie Bingham and Dan Walker and 20-time Champion Jockey Sir AP McCoy, who were all announced as Celebrity Ambassadors earlier this year, are set to take their spots in the Celebrity Series Grand Final, which will take place on Tuesday December 7 at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius.
The trio will be joined by sports journalist Chris Hollins, who won the first Celebrity Series event at the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, and Irish Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin, who won at the Irish Legends presented by the McGinley Foundation.
Irish rugby union star Keith Wood has qualified courtesy of his second placed finish at Rosapenna Hotel & Golf Links, while Scottish rugby union legend Gavin Hastings and former Manchester United player and Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will take up their spots after finishing as winner and runner-up at the Scottish Senior Open hosted by Paul Lawrie.
Former England and Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, who scored 163 Premier League goals in a glittering career, will join the field after finishing third in the Order of Merit, behind Hollins and Irishman Keith Duffy, who is unable to travel to the Indian Ocean due to prior commitments.
The field will be completed by former England cricket captain Sir Andrew Strauss, who teed it up in Qualifying Events at both the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship and the Irish Legends presented by the McGinley Foundation.
Georgie Bingham, who has become the face of the Legends Tour in her role as the host of the Highlights Show, said: “I have loved being involved with the Legends Tour this summer and I am now lucky enough to feel part of the team after being asked to present the highlights show.
“Being a Celebrity Ambassador and having the opportunity to play alongside Legends of the game has been a dream come true and I cannot wait to play the final event of the year in Mauritius.”
Dan Walker, who teed it up in the Celebrity Series event at Formby Golf Club, said: “The Celebrity Series Grand Final will be a fantastic occasion for everyone who has played in the Series so far and I’m incredibly excited to spend a week in Mauritius in December – depending on how far I get in Strictly Come Dancing!
“Playing for a charity prize fund is a brilliant initiative by the Legends Tour and I will be delighted to play my part for some very worthy causes.”
Sir AP McCoy, who rode a record 4,358 winners in a 23-year jump racing career, said: “The Celebrity Series events have been great fun. I’ve been given the opportunity to play on some amazing golf courses with some fantastic golfers, while also catching up with people I don’t often get to see.
“I’m sure it will be a fitting finale to the season in Mauritius and it’s also for a good cause.”
Phil Harrison, the Chief Executive Officer of the Legends Tour, said: “We have brought together a magnificent field of celebrities to compete in the Celebrity Series Grand Final, which will kick off our final week of the season in Mauritius.
“This year marks the tenth anniversary of the MCB Tour Championship and it is quite fitting that we are adding additional star quality to the week in what I know will be a memorable occasion for MCB, Constance Hotels and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.
“The celebrities and our members have all bought in to the Celebrity Series and I am pleased the Legends Tour is at the forefront of finding innovative ways to not only create an entertaining product, but also giving back to charity through our celebrities’ good causes.”
The Celebrity Series Grand Final will take place on Tuesday December 7 at Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius, a European Tour Destination. The MCB Tour Championship – Mauritius will be held from Friday December 10 – Sunday December 12.
