Australian golfer Scott Hend has achieved a remarkable victory at the Trophy Hassan II, a significant event on the PGA TOUR Champions held at the Red Course of the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat. After delivering an impressive final round of 69 strokes, four under par, Hend finished the tournament with a total score of -15, securing a five-shot lead over New Zealand's Steven Alker and American Tommy Gainey, who shared the second place.
At the age of 52, Hend celebrated his first triumph on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit during only his twelfth appearance in the senior tour. His previous best result was a second-place finish at the Regions Tradition in 2026; however, his win in Morocco marked a significant milestone, making him the third debut winner of the season after Zach Johnson at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational and Boo Weekley at the Insperity Invitational.
This victory is also historically significant as it continues the international trend of the tournament within the Champions Tour, making Hend the fourth consecutive foreign winner. He follows in the footsteps of Stephen Ames from Canada (2023), Ricardo Gonzalez from Argentina (2024), and Miguel Ángel Jiménez from Spain (2025). Moreover, Hend's win places him in the annals of the championship as the first Australian to claim victory in the 50-year history of the Trophy Hassan II.
Winning in Rabat comes with substantial rewards, including an exemption status on the PGA TOUR Champions through the end of the 2027 season. Additionally, Hend has qualified for the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai for both 2027 and 2028. His triumph propelled him from 14th to 5th place in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, underscoring his burgeoning success on the tour.
Far from being a newcomer in the world of golf, Hend arrived in Morocco with a solid professional background on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a member of the PGA Tour from 2004 to 2005, competing in 86 tournaments, with his best finish being third at the AT&T Classic in 2004. Furthermore, he has claimed three victories on the DP World Tour and another three on the Staysure Legends Tour, including two wins in 2025. His status as the number one in the Order of Merit of the Legends Tour in 2025 paved the way for his entry into the field of the Trophy Hassan II.
On the Spanish representation front, José María Olazábal managed to tie with the course for the second consecutive day, finishing with a total score of -1, which placed him in 24th position after a week characterized by consistency. Defending champion Miguel Ángel Jiménez concluded his journey in Rabat with a third round of 72 strokes, one under par. The Málaga native struggled to find the rhythm that led him to victory the previous year and finished in 46th place.
As reported by opengolf.es.
