The PGA TOUR Champions is making its debut in Portugal this week with a new tournament hosted at The Els Club Vilamoura in Quarteira. This marks the first time the senior tour has held an event in the country, highlighted by a collaboration involving Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, Turismo do Algarve, and golf legend Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady expressed enthusiasm about bringing legendary players to Portugal, anticipating strong support from local and European golf fans eager to witness top-level competition.

The event is set on a course that carries a rich history, having hosted the Portuguese Masters from 2007 to 2022 with champions like Shane Lowry and Pádraig Harrington. Formerly called the Victoria Course, it underwent a redesign and rerouting by Ernie Els, reopening in July 2025 with enhancements aimed at championship play. The renovation included improvements to the course layout and facility additions such as a new clubhouse, luxury dining options, members’ locker rooms, a driving range, and a putting green, all designed to elevate the tournament experience.

Players will face varied challenges, particularly on the course’s back nine where water hazards feature prominently, affecting five of the last nine holes. The front nine is more straightforward but includes strategic bunkering and doglegs that test precision and shot shaping. The course’s design thoughtfully balances risk and reward, demanding players navigate a mix of terrain alongside natural features like ponds and native grasslands.

The inaugural Portuguese event boasts a $3 million purse and will be broadcast in the U.S. on Golf Channel. The field includes top contenders in the Charles Schwab Cup standings such as Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson, Pádraig Harrington, and Boo Weekley, with course architect Ernie Els himself ranked seventh and also competing. The Els Club Vilamoura has secured hosting rights for the tournament for the next five years through a multi-party agreement, positioning Portugal more prominently on the international golf stage.