Officials from PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve has announced a five-year partnership to host a new professional tournament in Portugal.
The inaugural Portugal Invitational will be held at The Els Club Vilamoura and debut the week of July 27, 2026. It will feature a field of 78 senior players from the PGA TOUR Champions and the Legends Tour. The event will mark the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke play event to be held in Portugal and will feature a purse of $3 million.
“We are thrilled to partner with Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, Turismo de Algarve and Ernie Els to announce this exciting, first-of-its-kind PGA TOUR Champions event in Portugal,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “This Tour is a global showcase of the game’s legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.”
The Els Club Vilamoura has been designed by Ernie Els, a seven-time PGA TOUR Champions winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member. The newly-redesigned Els Club hosted the DP World Tour’s Portugal Masters from 2007 through to 2022. Portugal’s only prior hosting of a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event came at the 2005 World Cup of Golf, a former team competition.
Els said: “Whenever our firm designs a golf course, we always have an eye on what makes it a successful tournament venue, so this was always a big part of our plans for The Els Club Vilamoura. It’s wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we’re grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.
“Working with Arrow Global and everyone at Vilamoura has been an absolute pleasure these past few years; they had a clear vision and mission from the get-go, which allowed us to focus our efforts on creating the very best golf course that we could. We’re very proud of this course; it looks incredible. There are a lot of great holes, a lot of memorable holes, and overall, it’s a really well-balanced test of golf. The practice facilities here are world-class, too. Everything about The Els Club Vilamoura makes it the ideal tournament venue. The players are going to love it, not just the golf course but this whole destination. It’s such a beautiful part of the world.”
John Calvão, Arrow Global Group Fund Principal, said: “This announcement signifies the convergence of several heavyweights in the game of golf; the renowned golf destination of the Algarve, the might of Ernie Els’ design, and the legendary golfers who will compete on these fairways. For Arrow Global, this is a major step in realising our vision for Portugal as one of the best global golf and lifestyle destinations, and we believe this tournament will showcase the world-class quality of the course and the strength of our long-term commitment to the region.
“We’ve made a significant investment in the destination, elevating it with world-class hotels, a completely renovated marina, upgraded golf courses, and a high-end equestrian center. We’re also further developing high-quality real estate that reflects the lifestyle our guests and residents seek. Soon, we’ll be adding a country club and a beach club, making this a destination that truly has everything for families and all generations to enjoy.”
Carlos Abade, President of Turismo de Portugal, commented: “Portugal has increasingly become a world-class destination for major international sporting events and welcoming PGA TOUR Champions is a natural next step in that journey. This tournament will not only showcase the excellence of our golf courses, but also the beauty, culture, and hospitality that make Portugal a unique destination year-round. We are proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to welcoming players and fans from around the world to the Algarve.”
All three rounds of the Portugal Invitational will be televised on GOLF Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. The Portugal Invitational will also include members of the Legends Tour through the Strategic Alliance between the PGA TOUR and the European Tour Group.
Longtime PGA TOUR executive Todd Rhinehart, who ran a number of the TOUR’s biggest events and most recently oversaw PGA TOUR Latinoamerica as Vice President and Executive Director, was announced as the Tournament Director of the Portugal Invitational.