The Legends Tour will return to JCB Golf & Country Club in 2023, with 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke returning as tournament host.
The announcement adds to an exciting year on the Legends Tour. The upcoming season promises to be the biggest since its rebranding, with larger fields and record-breaking prize money as well as new venues hosting top events, including Ireland’s Seapoint Golf Links and Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen.
Last year’s JCB Championship at the Staffordshire venue proved a hugely popular addition to the calendar. Alex Cejka’s final round 70 was enough to give him a two-shot victory over 2014 Ryder Cup-winning captain Paul McGinley. Host Darren finished in a tie for third place on eight under-par alongside the South African pair of Retief Goosen, a two-time US Open champion, and James Kingston.
Enigmatic American John Daly was among those who made the trip to the West Midlands in 2022, along with four-time major champion Ernie Els, and Masters champions Sandy Lyle and Jose Maria Olazabal.
“I was extremely proud to host The JCB Championship last year for what was a truly fantastic event,” Darren said. “The JCB Golf & Country Club is a great venue, and we had such a great field in 2022 with so many former Major champions and legends of the game taking part. I am really looking forward to returning in 2023 as host and am grateful to have been given this opportunity again.”
Phil Harrison, chief executive of the Legends Tour, said: “We are thrilled to have secured yet another international event at the JCB Golf & Country Club. It is a truly world-class venue and this is a great opportunity to showcase the course once again. The 2023 Legends Tour season will be the biggest to date with plenty of new events at top-quality courses and shows our commitment to growing the Tour as a sporting spectacle.”
The brainchild of JCB chairman Lord Bamford, The JCB Golf & Country Club opened in 2018. At 7,308 yards from the back tees, the layout offers a stern challenge while the layout, set in 240 acres of rolling countryside, has been hailed a masterpiece in contemporary course.
The course has several notable holes, including the signature par three 17th. At 255 yards, players are faced with an intimidating downhill tee shot to an island green. With trees to the left, and a large sand trap positioned front-right, any wayward shots are punished and will leave you scrambling to make par.
