Tournament week for the inaugural Portugal Invitational kicked off at The Els Club Vilamoura on Tuesday, as leaders from golf, tourism and government gathered for the event’s introductory press conference ahead of the first-ever PGA TOUR Champions event to be staged in Europe.
The occasion brought together Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado; Turismo de Portugal President, Carlos Abade; Turismo do Algarve President, André Gomes; Mayor of Loulé, Telmo Pinto; PGA TOUR Champions President, Miller Brady; World Golf Hall of Fame member, Ernie Els; Arrow Global Co-Founder and Head of Real Estate and Hospitality, John Calvão; and Tournament Director, Todd Rhinehart, reflecting the broad institutional and sporting support behind the inaugural event.
The Portugal Invitational, which runs from 31 July to 2 August, boasts a 78-player field featuring PGA TOUR Champions and Legends Tour members who will compete over 54 holes for a purse of $3 million.
John Calvão, Co-Founder and Head of Real Estate and Hospitality at Arrow Global, said: “Seeing the Portugal Invitational become a reality is a proud moment for everyone involved. We couldn’t have asked for a better field, and the course is in tremendous shape. This event is an important part of our vision to showcase Portugal, the Algarve and Vilamoura, and I truly believe it is going to be a great week.”
PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady added: “Bringing the first-ever PGA TOUR-sanctioned event to Portugal was an easy decision. We knew we had tremendous partners in Turismo de Portugal and Arrow Global, and it has been fantastic to see the event come to life. The strength of the field this week, with five World Golf Hall of Fame members and more than 470 professional victories between the players, underlines the quality of the competition. This is a special week for PGA TOUR Champions, and we believe it will continue to grow year after year.”
Ernie Els, World Golf Hall of Fame member and designer of The Els Club Vilamoura, who is competing this week in the tournament, said: “This has been a real team effort from the beginning, and I’m incredibly proud to see everything come together. I’ve known and loved this area for more than 20 years, so to have the opportunity to create a championship golf course here, while also making it enjoyable for members and players of every level, has been very special. I’m very excited about what this event can become over the coming years.”
The Portugal Invitational forms part of a five-year partnership between PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Algarve. The event has also attracted a strong and diverse group of sponsors, including Mercedes-Benz, Kress, Reflo, Dils, Deloitte, Lusíadas Saúde, Loulé, Heritage Wines, Heineken, Nespresso, Pacheca, Vista Alegre and InfraMoura.
Media partners include SIC Notícias, Expresso, Sport TV and JCDecaux. Their support provides a strong platform for the tournament’s debut and helps build momentum for the continued growth of the Portugal Invitational in the years ahead.
All three rounds will be televised in the United States on GOLF Channel. International PGA TOUR Champions coverage is available in more than 170 countries and territories through the Tour’s network of media partners.
For more information about the Portugal Invitational, including tickets and the latest tournament updates, visit www.portugalinvitational.com