Tom Lewis will target a third Portugal Masters crown when he tees up at 9.00am at the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course on Thursday.
The Englishman claimed his maiden European Tour title at this event in 2011 on just his third professional start and would regain the Portugal Masters crown seven years later when he finished three shots clear of Lucas Herbert and Eddie Pepperell last season.
It will be a testing week in Vilamoura, with the top 117 players in the Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex after this event keeping their playing privileges for the 2020 season.
Lewis will form an all-English trio on the back nine on Thursday morning, playing alongside 24 time European Tour winner Lee Westwood and Matt Wallace, who is the leading player in the field on the Race to Dubai in fifth place.
Mr 59, Oliver Fisher, who recorded the first ever 59 on the European Tour during his second round last year, plays in a threeball who are looking to retain their card for next season.
The Englishman is on the tee ten minutes before the marquee group alongside Lee Slattery and Spaniard Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, who currently sit 115th and 125th respectively on the Race to Dubai Rankings with Fisher in 112th.
Two-time Major Champion Martin Kaymer begins his first round at 1.20pm with Pepperell and New Zealand's Ryan Fox, while European Ryder Cup Captain and former Portugal Masters winner Padraig Harrington starts ten minutes later alongside Finn Mikko Korhonen and Italian Lorenzo Gagli.
Lucas Bjerregaard, who won this event in 2017, is in the company of 2010 Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher and three time European Tour winner Chris Wood at 1.00pm in Portugal.
