From left to right: Turismo de Portugal President Carlos Abade; Mayor of Loulé Telmo Pinto; Arrow Global Co-Founder and Head of Real Estate and Hospitality John Calvão; Vilamoura World and Vilamoura Marina CEO Isolete Correia; Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism Pedro Machado; Turismo do Algarve President André Gomes; World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els; and PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, pictured with the Portugal Invitational trophy at The Els Club Vilamoura. | Credit: Portugal Invitational
Vilamoura, Algarve, July 29 – Tournament week for the inaugural Portugal Invitational kicked off today at The Els Club Vilamoura, as leaders from golf, tourism and government gathered for the event’sintroductory 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 ofLoulé, 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 is the first PGA TOUR Champions event to be staged in Europe and the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke play tournament held in Portugal.From Friday, 31 July to Sunday, 2 August, a 78-player field featuring PGA TOUR Champions and Legends Tour members 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.”
World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els pictured with the Portugal Invitational trophy at The Els Club Vilamoura. | Credit: Portugal Invitational
Miller Brady: “Bringing the first-ever PGA TOUR-sanctioned event to Portugal was aneasy 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 and 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’mvery excited about what this event can become over the coming years.”
André Gomes, President of Turismo do Algarve, said:“Hosting the European debut of PGA TOUR Champions is a major milestone for the Algarve and a strong recognition of our region as one of the world’s leading golf destinations. This event brings together sport, tourism and international promotion, while showcasing everything the Algarve has to offer on and off the golf course.”
Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal, said: “We immediately recognised the potential of this tournament to strengthen Portugal’s international profile in highly valuable tourism markets. Golf is a strategic tourism product for Portugal, helping to attract visitors throughout the year, and this event represents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase Portugal and the Algarve across key international markets.”
Telmo Pinto, Mayor of Loulé, said: “Hosting the inaugural Portugal Invitational is a significant moment for Loulé and Vilamoura. It demonstrates the quality of our sporting and tourism infrastructure and will generate valuable international exposure for the municipality and the wider region.”
Pedro Machado, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, said: “This event is excellent news for both the Algarve and Portugal. More than the impressive figures, an audience of around 80 million viewers in over 170 countries, and an estimated economic impact of 45 million euros, it represents a unique opportunity to showcase Portugal to a highly qualified international audience, highlighting our quality of life, gastronomy, safety, climate, and the excellence of our tourism offer.”
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 will be contested at The Els Club Vilamoura, designed by Els as a championship venue and prepared to welcome many of the most accomplished and recognisable players in the game.
The event has also attracted a strong and diverse group of partners, underlining the interest generated ahead of its inaugural edition. Arrow Global, Vilamoura, Visit Portugal and Visit Algarve are joined by 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.
The first round begins this Friday, 31 July, with the inaugural Portugal Invitational champion set to be crowned on Sunday, 2 August.
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