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The Algarve will be the main event on the global golf calendar after the PGA TOUR Champions announced a new five-year deal to bring a professional tournament to Portugal. The Portugal Invitational is a historic event for golf in Vilamoura and the country as a whole. Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo do Algarve support it. Portugal will host an individual strokeplay event for the first time, organised by the PGA Tour. This will help solidify its reputation as a top golf destination in Europe.

The Els Club Vilamoura will host the Portugal Invitational from July 31 to August 2, 2026. There will be 78 players in the tournament, including members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, stars of the PGA TOUR Champions, and a few players from the Legends Tour. The event will bring in some of the biggest names in the sport and put Vilamoura in the international spotlight with a prize pool of $3 million. The tournament is also part of a three-week stretch of top-level senior golf in Europe, between the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the Staysure Senior PGA Championship.

Ernie Els designed the Els Club Vilamoura, which is an important part of this story. The course was called Dom Pedro Victoria before it hosted the Portugal Masters on the DP World Tour from 2007 to 2022. Champions like Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington played there. The new layout is based on Els’ idea of a balanced but difficult test, with world-class practice facilities to back it up. Els says that seeing the course chosen for a PGA TOUR Champions event shows that the design was meant to be ambitious and that Vilamoura can host golf at the highest level.

This news makes golf in Vilamoura even more appealing to fans and golfers who travel. The destination is already known for having a lot of great golf courses. It has championship golf, golden beaches, an award-winning marina, great food, and easy access to real Algarve experiences. The Ria Formosa lagoons, local seafood traditions, and the historic town of Loulé are all nearby and offer more than just golf.

Arrow Global Group sees the Portugal Invitational as a big step towards its long-term goal of making Vilamoura a world-class golf and lifestyle destination. Continued investment in hotels, marina infrastructure, improved golf courses, and future projects like a country club and beach club show that the goal is to bring in visitors all year round. Tourism leaders at both the national and regional levels have also talked about how the event will help the Algarve become more visible around the world, be more sustainable, and grow its economy.

The GOLF Channel will show all three rounds of the Portugal Invitational live, and people in more than 170 countries will be able to watch it. The tournament will also have Legends Tour players thanks to the partnership between the PGA TOUR and the European Tour Group. Expectations are high for a historic event now that Todd Rhinehart has been named Tournament Director. He has decades of experience with the PGA TOUR.

Vilamoura golf courses still have one of the best mixes of quality, variety, and atmosphere in Europe for golfers who want to plan a trip based on this news. This part of the Algarve is starting a new chapter, whether you’re coming to watch the legends or play the same fairways. You can find customised options in our Vilamoura golf holidays collection.

Madeira is quickly becoming a must-visit destination for golf lovers. The Regional Government has announced plans to build a new golf course in Faial, Santana, in the north of the island. Set in a riverside area with no existing infrastructure, the course promises a high-quality layout that takes advantage of Madeira’s excellent climate. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government, notes the project will bring economic benefits, including skilled jobs, new residents, and increased activity in the area. While there’s no official timeline yet, the plans mark an exciting development for Madeira golf.

Porto Santo is also expanding its golf offerings. The island, already home to one course, will soon welcome a second Porto Santo golf course to help reduce seasonal tourism gaps. The first phase of construction has recently gone out to public tender, with a base value of €6.1 million.

Madeira currently boasts two courses on the main island and one in Porto Santo, with additional projects underway. The new Ponta do Pargo course in Calheta is nearing completion, while Santo da Serra will be expanded and Palheiro Ferreiro upgraded. Together, these developments reinforce Madeira’s growing reputation for world-class golf courses set against stunning landscapes.

For your next golf adventure, Madeira offers the perfect mix of challenging fairways, year-round sunshine, and unforgettable views.

The Rolear Algarve Classic has brought a welcome burst of competitive energy to the O’Connor Jr. Course, drawing ten of Portugal’s leading golfers and more than 150 international players. With a prize fund of 100,000 dollars, the tournament has quickly become one of the most significant early-season events linked to the revitalised MENA Golf Tour. For golfers travelling to the Algarve, the presence of such a diverse field highlights just how global the region’s golfing appeal has become. The event also reinforces the course’s growing reputation at a time of year when Portugal’s mild climate keeps competition flowing. It is a strong reminder that the Algarve continues to play an important role in shaping competitive golf across Europe and beyond.

A Strong Portuguese Line-Up on the O’Connor Jr. Course

This first edition of the Rolear Algarve Classic features a notable home contingent, including Ricardo Santos, Pedro Figueiredo, Tomás Melo Gouveia, Tomás Bessa, Pedro Lencart, Vasco Alves, Ricardo Garcia and Hugo Camelo, as well as amateur José Miguel Franco de Sousa. They now face a remarkably international field, representing more than thirty nations, ranging from traditional European golf hubs to emerging markets across North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Few other tournaments in Portugal offer this level of diversity, and it places local players in a competitive environment that tests both consistency and creativity on every hole.

Algarve’s Growing Presence in Global Golf

The tournament’s link to the renewed MENA Golf Tour adds further relevance, as the circuit begins its new season with stops across Portugal before continuing abroad. With recent events held at Troia and Aroeira, the Algarve now hosts another ranking-counting competition that benefits both the tour and Portuguese golf as a whole. Professional circuits like the Alps Tour and Pro Golf Tour may offer smaller prize funds, but this event signals a more ambitious direction for the region, attracting bigger names and stronger fields. For visiting golfers planning a holiday, the atmosphere around the event shows exactly why the Algarve remains such a reliable destination for winter and spring play, where high-level tournaments and leisure travel blend seamlessly.

If you’re exploring the region for your next golf break, you can find more inspiration on our page for Algarve golf holidays.