Pedro Lima Pinto and Nelson Cavalheiro intend to organize the National Professionals Championship in 2021, Photo: Rui Frazão
Portuguese PGA
At a time when the pandemic forced the Portuguese Golf Federation (FPG) to postpone until March the start of the season, the Portuguese PGA confirmed that they will organize some tournaments in 2021, although it is still premature to announce dates and locations.
In a statement published on the official website of the Professional Portuguese Golf Players Association, the following can be read: «PGA Portugal will also organize the PGA Portugal Championship at the end of the year and will continue to develop efforts in the current scenario for the organization of more tournaments and the Pro-Ams.
One of the tournaments being planned, in addition to the aforementioned PGA Portugal Championship, is the Solverde National PGA Championship, the National Professional Golf Championship.
In the past, this tournament was played at Oporto Golf Club between 2015 and 2019 and Vidago Golf Course in 2020.
The most likely dates will be the months of July or September, but we will have to wait for the international calendars, mainly for the Challenge Tour.
For now, the best scenario on the table will be three tournaments for Portuguese Golf Professionals in 2021 with the PGA Portugal, not counting the Pro-Am.
In total, there will be five tournaments on the FPG circuit, in addition to the Absolute National Championship which, for the second consecutive year, will also host professionals. These six events will be organized by the FPG.
Adding the FPG tournaments to the PGA tournaments in Portugal, we may have a total of nine events in 2021 that will form what we can informally call a National Golf Circuit.
If these nine tournaments are confirmed, we will be facing an attractive and competitive season, with all the events counting for the ranking of the Portuguese PGA.
In addition to these nine national tournaments, Portuguese professionals (and the best amateurs) also aim to participate in the two international tournaments in our country: the Portugal Masters of the European Tour (the first European division), in Vilamoura, disputed at Vilamoura Victoria Golf Course, and the Portuguese Open at Royal Óbidos Golf Course, on the Challenge Tour (the second division of European professional golf).
The best national golfers, even if there is no competition abroad, if everything goes according to planed, they can participate in a total of 11 Golf Tournaments.
It is almost one tournament average per month, which, in this pandemic context, is a remarkable effort by FPG and Portuguese PGA.
Of course, everything will depend on fighting COVID-19. The first tournament of the FPG Circuit was scheduled for February and has already been postponed to March.
A message published on social networks by FPG announced the following: “Considering the legislative changes introduced by Decree nº 3-B / 2021, of 19 January, now clarified by Decree nº 3-C / 2021, of 22 January, which determined a limitation to the practice and training of golf by all those who are not professionals or with equivalent activity, the Portuguese Golf Federation believes should suspend the holding of competitions scheduled until February 15th. Thus, the following new dates for the competitions mentioned below are now fixed to be played at Montado Hotel & Golf Resort: 1st Tournament of the FPG Circuit – 6 and 7 March, 91st International Women’s Amateur Championship of Portugal – 12 to 15 May; 91st International Male Amateur Championship of Portugal – 18 to 21 May ».
Tee Times Golf Agency will release all the updates on dates and golf courses chosen for these and all the Portuguese Golf Tournaments promptly, as well as, will have the pleasure of organizing all Golf Packages for its participants and supporters, suggesting the best hotels and golf courses in each region.
Source: Hugo Ribeiro / Tee Times Golf (teetimes.pt) for Record
