Host Woosnam – a long-time resident of Barbados – will be joined by fellow Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, along with no fewer than nine other players to have represented Team Europe in the famous biennial competition against the United States.
There will also be Major champions on show at Apes Hill with 2003 USPGA Champion Shaun Micheel and New Zealander Michael Campbell, who can reflect on the 20th anniversary of his epic 2005 US Open victory over Tiger Woods at Pinehurst.
“It’s a stunning place with amazing views and some spectacular holes,” says Baker, the defending champion and himself a former Ryder Cupper. “We all love coming here and it’s looking like a very strong field this year with quite a few new players coming on board.
“The standard is incredibly high and although it is a bit more relaxed than the main tour we are all naturally competitive so it’s going to be a great week. It’s a demanding course and you really have to control your ball and get your distances right. I’m really looking forward to trying to win again.”
The Barbados Legends will also see debuts for two players who have recently turned 50 – Steve Webster and David Drysdale, both of whom enjoyed long careers as established players on the DP World Tour. Having beaten Tiger Woods to the low-amateur Silver Medal at the 1995 Open Championship, Webster turned pro and racked up more than 500 appearances on Tour, winning twice – at the Open D’Italia and the Portugal Masters.
Drysdale, meanwhile, enjoyed more than a decade on Tour, playing almost 500 times. He notched up two wins on the Challenge Tour but narrowly missed out on a maiden European Tour title when he lost a play-off at the 2020 Qatar Masters, having narrowly missed a birdie putt to win on the 72nd hole.
In addition to victorious Ryder Cup captains from 2006 and 2014, Team Europe will be represented by a strong contingent of players, including Niclas Fasth, Thomas Levet, Stephen Gallacher, Phillip Price, Joakim Haeggman, Miguel Angel Martin, Jarmo Sandelin, Jean van de Velde and Baker.
The venue itself is another star turn. Offering a unique golfing experience, luxury community and deep connection to nature, Apes Hill has become one of the most talked about destinations in the world.
The 18-hole championship course lies at its heart, with sweeping views across the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea the other from its elevated position 1,000 feet above sea level. Designed by the esteemed Ron Kirby, the course provides an immersive journey through dramatic gullies, breathtaking coastal views and pristine fairways, integrating seamlessly through the natural land with sustainability woven into the design.
The Little Apes 9-hole par-3 course – a family-friendly short challenge – meanwhile, is inspired by some of the world’s most iconic holes. With a state-of-the-art Performance Centre featuring cutting-edge technology plus the unique 19th Hole with its island green, drawing inspiration from the 17th at TPC Sawgrass, the Apes Hill golfing experience is simply on another level.
For more information on the Barbados Legends hosted by Ian Woosnam and tournament scoring, CLICK HERE
