Portugal will welcome its first-ever PGA Tour-sanctioned individual stroke play event in 2026, as officials confirmed a new five-year partnership to launch the Portugal Invitational.
The tournament will debut the week of July 27, 2026, at The Els Club Vilamoura in the Algarve, bringing some of the biggest names in the game to one of Europe’s golf hotspots
The Portugal Invitational will feature a 78-player field made up of PGA Tour Champions and Legends Tour members, including World Golf Hall of Famers and major champions. The players will compete for the lion’s share of the $3 million purse.
The tournament forms part of an exciting three-week European swing for the over-50s circuit, sandwiched between the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the Staysure Senior PGA Championship. The course was recently redesigned by seven-time PGA Tour Champions winner and four-time major winner Ernie Els.
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Portugal Invitational: 2026 will bring brand-new event for senior circuit
“Whenever our firm designs a golf course, we always have an eye on what makes it a successful tournament venue, so this was always a big part of our plans for The Els Club Vilamoura,” Els said.
“It’s wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we’re grateful to PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.
“Working with Arrow Global and everyone at Vilamoura has been an absolute pleasure these past few years; they had a clear vision and mission from the get-go, which allowed us to focus our efforts on creating the very best golf course that we could. We’re very proud of this course; it looks incredible.
“There are a lot of great holes, a lot of memorable holes, and overall, it’s a really well-balanced test of golf. The practice facilities here are world-class, too. Everything about The Els Club Vilamoura makes it the ideal tournament venue. The players are going to love it, not just the golf course but this whole destination. It’s such a beautiful part of the world.”
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The Els Club Vilamoura is no stranger to top-tier golf. Previously home to the DP World Tour’s Portugal Masters (2007–2022), it has seen winners like Open Champions Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington, who is expected to be among the marquee names in the Portugal Invitational field.
Though Portugal hosted the 2005 World Cup of Golf – a team event – this marks the country’s debut as a host for a PGA Tour-sanctioned individual competition.
Fans will be able to follow all three rounds live on GOLF Channel, with international coverage spanning more than 170 countries via 22 media partners.
Vilamoura, in the southern Algarve region, is known for its stunning beaches, luxury resorts, and natural beauty. From the nearby Ria Formosa islands to the cliffside trails of the Seven Hanging Valleys, it offers plenty for visiting fans and players to explore beyond the fairways.
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