PGA Tour Champions Portugal 2026

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The PGA Tour Champions Portugal Invitational 2026 will be played at The Els Club Vilamoura from 31 July to 2 August 2026, bringing senior golf’s biggest names to the Algarve for a landmark week. It is set to be Portugal’s first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke-play event, a statement moment for the country’s golf calendar and for Vilamoura’s status as a tournament host. The timing sits neatly in the peak summer window, ideal for fans who want to pair championship viewing with their own rounds. For golfers planning ahead, this is the kind of event that turns a great Algarve trip into a memorable one, make sure you check out our Golf holiday offers in the Algarve to create an outstanding experience around this event.

Across three tournament days, a 78-player field drawn from PGA Tour Champions and the European over-50s ranks will compete for a $3 million purse. Expect a compact, television-friendly schedule and a course set-up designed to reward precision over brute force. With the event positioned during the European summer swing, travelling fans can plan a single itinerary that blends elite competition, warm weather, and reliable tee time access across the region.

Vilamoura is built for weeks like this. The tournament venue, formerly the Victoria Course, hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022 and has since been refreshed under Ernie Els. The layout offers width off the tee, strategic bunkering, and risk-reward holes that make for compelling senior golf. Off the course, Faro Airport is roughly a 25-minute drive, the marina concentrates restaurants and nightlife, and nearby courses mean spectators can play in the morning and watch the leaders come home in the afternoon. In short, the infrastructure and the golf are already in place for a first-class championship experience.

La Sella Open 2025 Returns to Dénia

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La Sella Open 2025 lands on the Ladies European Tour from 18 to 21 September in Dénia, Alicante, and it is free to attend. The venue is La Sella Golf, a José María Olazábal design set by Montgó Natural Park, with a reputation for technical, rewarding golf. This is the third straight edition on Olazábal’s first course project, started in 1992 and refreshed in 2021. The event launched with a €1,000,000 purse, then the largest women’s prize fund in Spain, and it keeps its player-first ethos at the heart of the week. For fans, it is an easy sell: late-summer Costa Blanca, elite women’s golf, and a setting made for spectators.

Olazábal’s pride in the place is clear. He speaks about how the course has matured, how the original goals still echo in the current set-up, and how much it matters that players enjoy the challenge. That challenge is honest and varied. The routing rewards controlled tee shots, precise approaches, and a sharp short game. Undulating greens raise the stakes. Hit it long and keep the wedges tidy and you will be in business.

A 2021 redesign sharpened conditioning and put sustainability front and centre. The resort moved to Bermuda grasses for resilience in heat and efficient water use, reducing inputs without dulling the test. The result is surfaces that hold up under tournament stress and a profile that fits the climate. Three nine-hole loops allow flexible set-ups that show off elevation shifts, water, and angles that make you think.

The tournament has already delivered drama. In 2023, Nuria Iturrioz came from four back and won a playoff over Laura Fuenfstueck. In 2024, Helen Briem took her first LET title with a flawless closing six under. The players have also had their say off the course, voting La Sella Tournament of the Year 2023 and Best Player Services 2024. That combination of course quality and care is why the field looks forward to Dénia.

Expect a lively atmosphere across four days. Practice facilities sit close to the action, sightlines are friendly, and the coastal setting does the rest. If you are building a Spanish golf break around the tournament, keep travel simple and stay within reach of Dénia, Alicante, or Valencia. And if you want to add your own tee times to the week, explore our Costa Blanca Golf Holidays for packages that pair Costa Blanca golf with easy access to the event.

Sporting Golf Summer Open

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The 13th edition of the Sporting Golf Summer Open brought together 92 players, families, and guests for two days of competition and camaraderie at the renowned Amendoeira Golf Resort in Silves. Held in early August, the event drew golfers from 32 clubs across Portugal, from the north and centre to Lisbon and the Algarve, as well as several international guests, particularly from Italy.

The tournament kicked off with a full round on the O’Connor Course, played in excellent conditions under a hot summer sun. Following the first day’s play, participants gathered for a convivial dinner and prize ceremony, with entertainment provided by live music from Zélia Almeida. The evening ended with the traditional tômbola, where 83 prizes, ranging from golf gear and fine wines to travel vouchers, were raffled off. A special painting donated by club member José Reis was awarded to Fernando Guerra in a final draw.

The second day saw the competition move to Amendoeira’s Pitch & Putt course, where players tested their short game on the resort’s diverse sports complex. The two-day format offered a mix of standard and short-form golf, creating an inclusive atmosphere ideal for both serious competitors and recreational players.

Tournament Highlights

In the main O’Connor event, Rogério Beatriz won the Net category with 41 points, followed by Manuel Trindade and Fernando Flores Santos (both with 38). The Gross category was won by Bernardo Silva Carvalho with 29 points.

In the women’s division, Maria Pereira topped the Net leaderboard with 36 points, while Arminda Von Kaenel claimed the Gross title with 27 points.

Among international guests, Italian players stood out:

  • Matteo Balzer won Net (37 points), with Pedro Jerónimo and Luís do Pão following.

  • Walter Faustini dominated the Gross category with 38 points.

  • In the women’s guest division, Sonia Dubois and Teresa Melo Cabral shared the top Net score of 27 points, with Carlotta Balzer winning Gross with 21.

On the final day’s Pitch & Putt event, Paulo Azevedo claimed victory with 53 strokes, trailed by Paulo Jorge Alves (55) and Maurício Farinha (57). In the guest bracket, José Melo Cabral matched the winning score of 53, edging out Domingos Sousa Silva with 55.

As is tradition with Sporting Golf tournaments, players were also awarded for longest drives and precision shots across all 18 holes of the O’Connor layout, adding an extra layer of excitement and technical challenge.

A Celebration of Golf and Community

More than just a competition, the Sporting Golf Summer Open highlighted what makes Portugal such a standout destination for golf lovers: excellent courses, strong club culture, and a spirit of hospitality that blends competitive sport with shared experience. From family-friendly gatherings to post-round cocktails and live music, the event showcased how Portugal continues to deliver golf with character.

Want to experience Amendoeira for yourself? Explore our Algarve Golf Holidays to discover packages that include the O’Connor and Faldo courses, ideal for both social rounds and serious play.