{"id":24940,"date":"2026-06-23T09:23:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T07:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ladiesingolf.com\/?p=24940"},"modified":"2026-06-23T15:55:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:55:46","slug":"european-legends-unite-at-costa-navarino","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ladiesingolf.com\/en\/european-legends-unite-at-costa-navarino\/","title":{"rendered":"Costa Navarino Welcomes Europe\u2019s Golf Legends"},"content":{"rendered":"
Picture: GolfPIC | Phil Inglis<\/pre>\n
Previous champions along with some of European golf\u2019s most decorated players enjoyed another memorable week of action at the 2026 Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy, \u00a0that took place from June 8-13.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie<\/strong> and 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam headlined a star-studded international line-up for the third edition of the 54-hole tournament, which saw England\u2019s Simon Griffiths prevail after a dramatic last day in Greece at the destination that 2024 winner Clark Dennis described as \u201cthe best that we play on Tour\u201d.<\/p>\n
Taking place under cloudless skies across two of Costa Navarino\u2019s four 18-hole signature courses \u2013\u00a0The Hills Course<\/a> and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course<\/a> \u2013 and with the historic bay of Navarino providing an idyllic backdrop, no fewer than eight players were tied at the top of the leaderboard going into the final round.<\/p>\n
Scotland\u2019s David Drysdale made the early running on the International Olympic Academy Golf Course, birdieing three of his opening five holes to move into the outright lead, while defending champion Peter Baker also surged into contention during the opening stages.<\/p>\n
But the momentum shifted when Drysdale made a costly three-putt bogey at the 12th<\/sup> hole after missing the green long, opening the door for the chasing pack. The decisive moment came on the 13th<\/sup> and 14th<\/sup>holes, where Griffiths converted consecutive birdie opportunities while his nearest challengers failed to do the same.<\/p>\n
Griffiths eventually finished on a winning score of 12-under-par, three strokes clear of Drysdale, with Baker, Dennis, Scotland’s Doug McGuigan and Ryder Cup star Joakim Haeggman sharing third place one shot further back.<\/p>\n
Griffiths, whose victory was his first this year and his third in total since joining the Staysure Legends Tour<\/strong>, said: “I’m shocked to be honest. When I won the other two, I felt like I was playing well and I felt like I should have been out there, but I hadn’t played well for such a long time. You’re just not sure if it’s ever going to come back again. So yeah, I’m over the moon happy but a little bit shocked.<\/p>\n
In addition to once again having the chance to experience the two Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Olaz\u00e1bal-<\/strong><\/a>designed courses at Navarino Hills, players and guests had the opportunity to stay at the vibrant W Costa Navarino<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 one of Costa Navarino\u2019s four five-star resorts \u2013 while enjoying genuine hospitality and a rich offering of authentic local experiences.<\/p>\n
Baker, Dennis and Woosnam<\/strong>, who was making his tournament debut, were among the players to comment warmly about the destination following an unforgettable week in Greece\u2019s southwest Peloponnese.<\/p>\n
Defending champion Baker said: \u201cIt was great to come back to such a stunning place and to play the courses which I know very well. It\u2019s one of the most special places in Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dennis said: \u201cCosta Navarino is a unique place. You\u2019ve got four great golf courses here, the hotels are fantastic and if you look out here at the view it\u2019s just amazing. I think it\u2019s our best venue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Woosnam added: \u201cThis is my first visit to Costa Navarino and I was delighted to be here. The two courses that we played are both beautiful and when you look at everything here, it\u2019s just wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Located in Messinia in Greece\u2019s southwest Peloponnese, Costa Navarino is part of the European Tour Destinations network.\u00a0Named as the \u2018World\u2019s Best Golf Venue\u2019 at the last two editions of the World Golf Awards, the destination combines award\u2011winning hospitality with a strong commitment to sustainability, culture and authentic experiences, and offers a world-class\u00a0experience on its four signature golf courses \u2013 The Dunes Course, The Bay Course, The Hills Course and the International Olympic Academy Golf Course.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy offered guests the exclusive opportunity to enjoy an exclusive \u2018up close and personal\u2019 playing experience alongside the players, with a Q & A session with Peter Baker and Ian Woosnam and inside-the-ropes spectator viewing access to the 54-hole tournament among the many benefits included.<\/p>\n
David Ashington, general manager at Costa Navarino Golf, said: \u201cIt\u2019s been another incredible week, with the event again demonstrating why Costa Navarino is regarded as one of the world\u2019s elite golf destinations. It was a pleasure for us to welcome such an exceptional line-up of players and to see another thrilling tournament unfold across our Navarino Hills courses, and the feedback we have received from everyone has been overwhelmingly positive. Events of this calibre allow us to showcase not only our world-class golf facilities but also the sustainable ethos of the destination, alongside the unique beauty and culture of the wider Messinia region. We\u2019re looking forward to building on this momentum and welcoming golfers back to Costa Navarino from all around the world in the years ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Picture: GolfPIC | Phil Inglis Previous champions along with some of European golf\u2019s most decorated players enjoyed another memorable week of action at the 2026 Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy, \u00a0that took place from June 8-13. Eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie and 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam headlined a star-studded international<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":24937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[]},"categories":[45,893,864,881,892],"tags":[5153,5154,5152,3995,4336,5155,5151],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t