Trophy Hassan II: Three things to know, how to watch and more

The 2024 PGA TOUR Champions season rolls on, heading abroad this week for the Trophy Hassan II from Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco. Following a rained-out Chubb Classic, PGA TOUR Champions fans can hope for beautiful coastal weather Thursday through Saturday for this event.

Here are three things to know about this week’s event:

1. Ames aiming for the rare double-defense

Stephen Ames leads the 66-man field heading to Northern Africa this week following his 36-hole victory last week at the Chubb Classic. Ames is also the reigning and defending champion of the Trophy Hassan II, dominating the field in a five-shot, wire-to-wire victory in 2023. The Canadian enters in terrific form and has the opportunity to pull off the rare double-defense, pulling off back-to-back wins on Tour and retaining his win from last year.

2. Colin Montgomerie returns to site of 1997 Trophy Hassan II win

European legend Colin Montgomerie heads to Morocco this week as one of four past champions of the Trophy Hassan II to highlight the field. Montgomerie (1997), along with Ames, Brett Quigley (2022) and open qualifier Joakim Haeggman (2001) will all look to earn their second win in this event which played its first iteration in 1991. Montgomerie's win from 27 years ago was also earned on this same track, placing the Scotsman in possible horses for courses territory.

3. Joint event with Ladies European Tour

This year's Trophy Hassan II will run alongside one of the marquee events of the Ladies European Tour (LET), the Lalla Meryem Cup, which has routinely gathered the world's best female golfers since its creation in 1993. Five Moroccan women will play amidst a field of 103 players in the Lalla Meryem Cup.

Tournament facts:

• Course: Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, par 73, 7,349 yards
• Field: 66 players (54 holes)
• Defending champion: Stephen Ames
• Purse: $2,000,000 (winner: $320,000)
• Scoring records:
  • Low 18-hole score: 63, Stephen Ames (2020, first round)
  • Low 36-hole score: 132, Stephen Ames (2020)
  • Low 54-hole score: 201, Brett Quigley (2020)

How to watch:

• Thursday: 8-11 a.m. ET (Golf Channel)
• Friday: 8-11 a.m. ET (Golf Channel)
• Saturday: 8-11 a.m. ET (Golf Channel)