What you need to know as the European Tour heads to Vilamoura for the 14th edition of the Portugal Masters
Iberian Swing continues
The 14th edition of the Portugal Masters is second part of a three event ‘Iberian Swing’, and follows on from John Catlin’s maiden victory at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters in Spain last week. The Swing will conclude with the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos next week.
This latest swing is part of a strategy to play events in regional clusters where possible, which has so far been achieved through the European Tour’s return with two dual-ranking events in Austria, and the six-week ‘UK Swing’.
As per all events in the reshaped 2020 season, the Portugal Masters will be governed by the European Tour’s comprehensive Covid-19 Health Strategy, and as such no general spectators will be permitted at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.
Brown defending maiden title
Steven Brown had resigned himself to the likelihood that he would have to head back to European Tour Qualifying School at the end of last season when he arrived at the 2019 Portugal Masters, but instead ended the week by earning his maiden victory in spectacular fashion with a final round 66.
He now returns to Vilamoura following a tied tenth finish at the Estrella Damn N.A Andalucia Masters, which is one of two top tens this season for the Englishman. The other came at the Hero Open in August, where Brown ended the week in fifth.
Asked if he is feeling added pressure ahead of his title defence, Brown admitted that while there is a small amount, it’s still a lot less than what he described last year as a ‘win or bust’ situation.
He said: “Maybe a bit because I did so well last year and I’ve still got those thoughts in my head. This season is very different with different feelings from last year when I was in a tough spot trying to keep my card. I feel a lot more chilled than last time – hopefully I can produce the same sort of stuff.
Fleetwood returns to Vilamoura
Ryder Cup star and former Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood returns to the Portugal Masters for the first time since 2016, having previously teed it up every year from 2012 to 2016.
The five-time European Tour winner, whose last victory came at the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player, made a strong start to the season with a tied second place finish in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA in January, followed by tied 11th at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic the following week.
Fleetwood, who returns to the European Tour for the first time since it’s break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, currently sits at ninth in the Race to Dubai and is focusing on a strong end to the season.
He said: “I got off to a good start on the 2020 Race to Dubai with a couple of positive weeks in the Middle East, including a tied second place finish behind Lee Westwood in Abu Dhabi. Like everyone, my schedule was put on hold shortly after that, but I’m focused on a strong end to the season now and I think the Portugal Masters will be a great place to play against a good field in Europe before heading to the U.S. Open the following week.”
A history of low scoring
John Catlin produced a winning score of two over par to clinch last week’s Tour event at Real Club Valderrama, the highest winning total in 28 years, but the scoring is expected to be a lot low lower as players tee up at the Arnold Palmer-designed course this week.
In the event’s history, the lowest winning total was achieved by Steve Wesbter during the tournaments inaugural staging in 2007, when he finished at 25 under par, while the highest winning total was during Shane Lowry’s 14 under par victory in 2012.
Yet despite not lifting the trophy, the most memorable round belongs to Oli Fisher, who became the first person in European Tour history to record a sub-60 round in 2018. The Englishman carded ten birdies and an eagle in his bogey-free 12 under par 59, with a tap-in par on the final hole all that was required to sign his name into the European Tour history books. Two players have also joined the exclusive 60-club at Dom Pedro Victoria, with Scott Jamieson and Nicolas Colsaerts both achieving the feat in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
Roll of Honour
The Portugal Masters has been staged every year since 2007, and in 2019 Brown became the latest addition to a trend of Champions as the seventh winner to hail from England, following in the footsteps of Steve Webster, Lee Westwood, David Lynn, Andy Sullivan and Tom Lewis, who won in both 2011 and 2018.
The event’s list of champions is an impressive one, and also includes Major champions Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, in addition to Alvaro Quiros, Richard Green, Alex Levy and Lucas Bjerregaard.
This week, Brown is joined in the field by fellow former winners Bjerregaard, Levy, Quiros and Webster.
