Portugal prominent in Golf

The European Tour visits Portugal for the third time in 2008 this week for the Portugal Masters with the country’s continued prominence as an international destination of choice for golf fans and holidaymakers very much at fore. The Portugal Masters is part of a far-reaching concept developed by the Portuguese government that has highlighted golf as one of the ten strategic tourist products in its National Tourism Strategy, prioritising the construction of top level courses and the hosting of major golf tournaments. The partnership between The European Tour and Turismo de Portugal encompasses the Portugal Masters and the Estoril Open de Portugal along with Seniors and Challenge Tour events, and this partnership is now in the second of a three-year agreement. These events have proved highly successful and it is clear that this is a strategy that is working well. There have been notable champions of both The European Tour events with Spain’s Pablo Martin creating history in 2007 when he won the Estoril Open de Portugal, becoming the first amateur to win on The European Tour. England’s Steve Webster completed an emotional victory at the inaugural Portugal Masters a few months after the death of his mother, while earlier this season Grégory Bourdy added his name to the growing list of French champions by winning the 2008 edition of the Estoril Open de Portugal. Now the stage is set for another enthralling week. The success of these events has helped develop a flourishing golfing culture in the country. Portugal won the Golf Destination of the Year – Europe award from the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and the country now boasts 75 golf courses - 33 of which are in the Algarve. Each year more than 300,000 golfers head to Portugal’s courses playing 1.4million rounds of golf and generates 25% of Portugal’s tourism revenue, showing the game has a vital role in the country’s – and the Algarve’s - tourism industry. This week it is the turn of Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, one of Oceânico’s famous five championship golf courses in Vilamoura, to welcome some of the top names in world golf all competing for the €3,000,000 prize fund at the Portugal Masters. Oceânico Golf, the major player in the golf, property and leisure markets in Portugal, has reinforced its relationship with The European Tour by becoming Official Partner for the 2008 Portugal Masters. Prior to the tournament itself, Oceânico’s two new Amendoeira golf courses at the Oceânico Amendoeira Golf Resort, designed by 2008 Ryder Cup Captain Nick Faldo and Ryder Cup player Christy O’Connor Jnr, were opened. While these two venues will no doubt further enhance Portugal’s reputation as a golfing Mecca in the long term, fittingly six of Faldo’s Team from Valhalla will be among the headline draws attracting the crowds this week to Oceânico Victoria Golf Course, one of Oceânico’s current flagship venues. Søren Hansen, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson all tee up alongside Webster, the defending champion who won the inaugural title 12 months ago.For Oceânico Golf, the week will be particularly special given it sponsors a number of the leading players who are part of the field. These include Westwood and the Irish pair Darren Clarke and Paul McGinley. Paul Broadhurst who has enjoyed plenty of success in Portugal, having won the Estoril Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos in 2005 and the Algarve Open de Portugal Caixa Geral de Depositos in 2006, is also in the field along with compatriot David Howell, another player sponsored by Oceânico.Added interest is provided by a number of players teeing up who have won previously in Portugal: Bourdy, winner the last time The European Tour visited Portugal for the Estoril Open de Portugal; Robert-Jan Derksen; Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge, who won the WGC – World Cup for Wales at the Victoria course in 2005; Niclas Fasth; Alastair Forsyth; Michael Jonzon; Pablo Martin; Phillip Price; Jarmo Sandelin; Daniel Vancsik and Jean Van de Velde.