Golf

Portugal Masters - 2021 Edition

The long awaited Portugal Masters returns to the Algarve in November

Traditionally hosted in the Autumn in recent years and postponed from the Spring due to travel difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual 72-hole battle is now taking place between Thursday, November 4th and Sunday, November 7th at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, in Vilamoura.

Following a period of uncertainty, the announcement of the addition of the Portugal Masters 2021 edition to the European Tour schedule understandably brought great enthusiasm among golfers and golf fans.

Played since 2007, and celebrating this year its 15th consecutive edition in Portugal, the prestigious Portugal Masters is jointly hosted by the European Tour and the Portuguese Tourism Board.

Chosen for the outstanding quality of its golf courses and tourism infrastructure, Portugal became in 2007 the first host of the Portugal Masters.

Conceived as the follow-on from the 2005 World Cup of Golf, the Portugal Masters has become over the years on of the most popular golf tournaments on the European Golf Tour.

The iconic Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course

Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, one of five fine golf courses within the Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection group, has been selected successively as the venue for this prestigious event and, 2021 edition is no different.

The Victoria Golf course, with an area of approximately 90 hectares, is a par 72 championship course designed by the American Arnold Palmer, a true legend in the history of professional golf.

Considered to be one of the best and most challenging golf courses in Europe, and featuring generous fairways and gentle rough, Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course offers an exceptional driving range and a putting green of some 2,500sqm.

The course finds itself laid out amongst several lakes and hazards and the surrounding wetlands and natural vegetation, including carob, olive, and almond trees, have been carefully preserved, offering a special layout, that presents a challenge even for the most seasoned players.

Past winners & the Portuguese participation

The €1.5 million in prize money event is the only Portuguese tournament where players can qualify and win points for the "Race to Dubai”.

Last year, the South African George Coetzee shot a 5-under 66 and won the Portugal Masters by two strokes and secured his fifth European Tour title.

Coetzee joined a list of champions that includes Lee Westwood (2009), Shane Lowry (2012) and Pádraig Harrington (2016), to name a few.

Although, in the fourteen-year history of the tournament, the title has never been successfully defended.

As well, no Portuguese player has ever won the Portugal Masters, though José-Filipe Lima tied for 21st on his debut in 2007, and Ricardo Santos finished in the top 20 in 2012.

For the past years, the Portugal Masters has been a huge success. The tournament attracts an elite of some of Europe's best players and world-wide coverage by the international press.

As a premier competition, this tournament highly elevates Portugal, the Algarve and the Dom Pedro Hotels & Golf Collection Group and, recognises Portugal and the Algarve region as one of the best golf destinations in the world.