World’s golf Legends to light up Sri Lanka

Standing from left: Kritser Fernando (special projects), Ajith Dandeniya (head of shared services Intervest), Mark Aspland (COO Legends Tour), Gihan Siribaddana (Capt RCGC) Capt Navin de Silva (President RCGC) Noordeen Sethwala (Greens Secretary RCGC), Tharanga Gunasekera (Marcom Secretary RCGC)

By Allaam Ousman 
The Legends Tour, Europe’s elite circuit for golfers aged 50 and over, is set to make its Sri Lankan debut in January 2026, with the inaugural Sri Lanka Legends presented by Intervest taking place at the historic Royal Colombo Golf Club (RCGC).
For the first time, Colombo will welcome some of the sport’s most celebrated names – Ryder Cup heroes, major winners, and Order of Merit champions – in an event that promises world-class golf, fan-friendly experiences, and a significant boost to sports tourism.
Legends Tour Chief Operating Officer Mark Aspland says the roots of the tour go back to the Senior Open Championship in 1987, a joint venture between the European Tour and the R&A to create a flagship event for the over-50s.
 “What the players wanted was more than just one major a year,” he explained. “They needed a full tour that would give them competitive opportunities and a way to earn after turning 50, when it became harder to compete on the main circuit.”
Initially built around a friendly Pro-Am format, the tour quickly grew in stature as celebrated names like Sam Torrance – a three-time Order of Merit winner – joined its ranks. In 2018, the circuit was rebranded as the Staysure Tour under a partnership with UK travel insurance magnate Ryan Howsam, before being re-launched as the Legends Tour during the pandemic.
Today, the tour is a standalone global brand, with ambassadors including Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley, Michael Campbell and Paul Lawrie leading its promotion.
The decision to bring the Legends Tour to Sri Lanka stems from Howsam’s strong personal connection to the country through his business, Intervest. A frequent visitor, he was impressed by the beauty of its courses, the warmth of its people, and the potential to position it as a new golfing destination.
Over the past 18 months, the Legends Tour has worked closely with Intervest and RCGC to stage the debut event. Aspland describes Royal Colombo as “a perfect fit” – a challenging layout steeped in history, founded in 1879 and recognised as the second oldest golf club outside the UK.
The Sri Lanka Legends will offer far more than a traditional golf championship. 
Aspland says the tour’s signature “Legends Experience” will see amateurs competing alongside the pros, sharing fairways, practice ranges and even the players’ lounge in a rare behind-the-scenes opportunity.
Two Pro-Ams will precede the main 54-hole event, which runs from Thursday to Saturday with 60 professionals and no halfway cut. Amateur competition will take place on the first two days, capped by a celebratory prize-giving on Friday night.
It will also be a week of open access and community engagement, with free entry for spectators, junior coaching clinics, and fireside chats where fans can hear golfing greats reflect on their careers.
Aspland believes the event will showcase Sri Lanka to a premium travel audience. The Legends Tour has access to a UK-based database of over eight million people – many affluent travellers with a strong interest in golf.
“We’ll have about 150 people flying in for the week – players, officials, guests – all staying in hotels and dining in restaurants,” he said. “But the bigger picture is promoting Sri Lanka as a world-class golfing destination to an international audience.”
There are also plans to involve Sri Lankan talent. Local juniors will have the chance to learn from Legends Tour professionals, while Sri Lanka’s own 50-plus pro, Anura Rohana, will compete in the field, gaining invaluable exposure.
Aspland admits that hosting a first-time event in a new territory is always a learning experience, but is confident in the local organising team. The bigger challenge, he says, will be aligning the Sri Lanka stop with another nearby event – ideally in the Middle East – to create a two-week playing “swing” attractive to European-based professionals.
However, the commitment to Sri Lanka is long-term. “We don’t see this as a one-off,” Aspland said. “The corporate market in Colombo has a fantastic opportunity here, and with government support, we can make this a permanent fixture.”
While the final line-up will be confirmed later this year, Aspland hinted at headline appearances from Colin Montgomerie, Paul McGinley, and Michael Campbell – with the added possibility of England cricket stars dropping in for a round during their concurrent tour of Sri Lanka.
From the fairways of Mauritius and Switzerland to the greens of Royal Colombo, the Legends Tour is on a mission to inspire fans, support local golf, and bring the world’s greats to new destinations. In January 2026, Sri Lanka will take its place on that map.