The first edition of the Portugal Invitational takes place between Friday and Sunday, in Vilamoura, in the Algarve, bringing together a group of 78 golf legends, including South African Ernie Els, competing on a course redesigned by himself. The circuit aimed at professional players over 50 years old, with almost 30 annual tournaments played mainly in the United States, will be played for the first time in Europe, with monetary prizes worth three million dollars (2.6 million euros). It will be the debut of individual PGA Tour stroke play events on national territory, on the same course – now Els Clube Vilamoura, previously called Victoria Golf Course – which had already hosted the World Cup, also promoted by the PGA Tour, in 2005, and the Portugal Masters, on the main European circuit, between 2007 and 2022. Ernie Els, former world number 1, heads the list of 78 players from 17 countries registered in the Algarve tournament, competing on a course that the South African completely redesigned, based on the original route created by the North American Arnold Palmer. “I have lived in the United Kingdom for over 20 years and this was already my vacation spot when Arrow Global (owner of the course) invited me to completely redesign the route. Arnold is one of my heroes and I just didn't want to ruin what he had done”, said Els this Tuesday, at the press conference to present the race. The 56-year-old South African played an “important role” in bringing the circuit to Portugal, said the president of the PGA Tour Champions. “I think it was Ernie's idea, when he collaborated with Arrow Global, that this would be a perfect platform to promote Vilamoura and the Algarve in the United States. And when he came to me with this idea, it immediately became clear that it would be a magnificent opportunity.”, Brady Miller told Lusa. The Irishman Pádraig Harrington, the German Bernhard Langer, the Spanish Miguel Ángel Jiménez, the Scottish Colin Montgomerie and the North Americans Stewart Cink, current leader of the circuit, David Duval, Zach Johnson and Justin Leonard are other of the main names present in the race, which will be broadcast in more than 170 countries. Altogether, the golfers registered in the Vilamoura tournament have 224 victories on the main professional circuit of the PGA Tour, including 20 major titles, the four most prestigious tournaments in the sport. When asked at the press conference about the possibility of Tiger Woods – who has already turned 50, but has since retired from competition, after being detained in March following a car accident – being able to join the PGA Tour Champions, both Miller and Els commented that the most important thing would be for the North American to “be in good health”. “You will always be welcome. We talk often and when you're ready to compete, I guarantee I'll knock on your door”, said Els. The joint agreement between PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Algarve encompasses a five-year partnership to hold the tournament in Vilamoura, until 2030. State support, through a joint partnership between Turismo de Portugal (TdP) and Turismo do Algarve, will amount to two million euros annually, estimating a direct and indirect economic return, per edition, of 45 million euros. “This tournament confirms Portugal's ability to capture major international events. The test allows Portugal to be projected throughout the world, particularly in one of the fastest growing issuing markets, the United States.”, commented the Secretary of State for Tourism, Pedro Machado. Post navigation Tobias Thulin is Benfica’s reinforcement João Almeida leaves Tour of Poland