Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington has added the Portugal Masters to his schedule where he will join five of his teammates from the victorious 2010 European Ryder Cup Team in the field at Oceânico Victoria Golf Course from October 13-16.
The Irishman finished third behind winner Lee Westwood on his last visit to Vilamoura in 2009 and he will face some strong competition for the title once again, with Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Francesco Molinari, as well as 2010 European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, already confirmed for the €2,500,000 event.
Harrington unveiled some new swing changes at the recent Austrian GolfOpen presented by Lyoness and he will be looking for a good performance in Portugal as he bids for a place in the season ending Dubai World Championship presented by DP World in December.
Despite winning in Asia last year, the 40 year old’s last European Tour victory came in the 2008 US PGA Championship, which followed back-to-back Open Championships, and he is hoping to end that three year barren run and capture his 15thEuropean Tour title at the Portugal Masters.
“Portugal is always a great place to play golf and I’m looking forward to returning to Vilamoura,” said Harrington. “I played pretty well there on my last visit two years ago. I remember shooting 62 in the second round so it is a course I have played well on in the past.
“The field looks very strong for the Portugal Masters but I’ll be trying to concentrate on my own game and hope I can contend and pick up points towards the Race to Dubai and Ryder Cup qualification. It would be fantastic to win another European Tour title.”
Harrington is one of five Major Champions in the field for the fifth edition of the tournament, alongside American John Daly, Kaymer of Germany, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and Spaniard José Maria Olazábal, the 2012 Ryder Cup Captain.
Three former Portugal Masters champions will also be returning to Oceânico Victoria Golf Course in Australian Richard Green, who defends the title he won last year, Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and inaugural winner Steve Webster of England.
