Alvaro Quiros will return to the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course for the Portugal Masters next month aiming to be the first player to win the title twice.
The big-hitting Spaniard claimed his second European Tour victory at the stunning Algarve venue in 2008, winning by three shots from Scotland’s Paul Lawrie in his second season following graduation from the European Challenge Tour.
It was an emotional triumph as Quiros dedicated it to his countryman Seve Ballesteros, who was at the time in hospital undergoing surgery on a brain tumour, a condition from which he died in May this year.
In his two appearances since his victory, Quiros has finished tied 16th (2009) and 57th (2010), and this year he has set his sights on making history by being a multiple winner of the event.
“I have great memories of my victory in the Portugal Masters three years ago and I’m looking forward to going back to the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course this year,” said the 28 year old, who is currently 13th in The Race to Dubai. “It is a beautiful venue, the weather is usually good, the people are very friendly and the Algarve is a great destination.
“I’ve had a very good season so far and it would be great to win my second title of 2011 there, following my victory in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. That’s certainly what I’ll be aiming to do. No player has won the tournament twice so it would be an honour to be the first one to do that.”
Quiros will be part of a strong Spanish contingent which also features Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Pablo Larrazabal and Pablo Martin, who arguably should have won the title last year.
Martin led by four shots in the final round, but three bogeys and a double bogey in his final seven holes put paid to his chances, and he had to settle for a share of sixth place, three shots behind the eventual champion Richard Green.
The Spaniards will have to contend with one of the strongest fields in the event’s history, boasting former World Number One Martin Kaymer, Englishman Ross Fisher and the Italian brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari, the latter of whom has twice finished runner-up at the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course.
Frederico Costa, Vice President of Turismo de Portugal, the Host Sponsor of the Portugal Masters, said: “We are delighted to welcome so many players from our close neighbours Spain to the event. Alvaro was a great champion in 2008, and we look forward to welcoming him back again.
“The strength of the field for the 2011 edition gives us great pride and it promises to be a fantastic week for all the players, spectators and everyone involved with the event.
“As always, we are proud to showcase the wonderful features which make the Algarve and the Oceânico Victoria Golf Course such a fabulous destination.”
