The Portugal Masters Pro-Am raised €8,000 for a local children’s charity through professionals donating their appearance fee.
All 40 pros gave their €100 appearance money to the Official Charity, ACCA Kids, a non-profit charitable organisation assisting disadvantaged children across the Algarve, and that total was matched by the Tour Players Foundation, the charitable arm of The European Tour.
ACCA Kids is run by volunteers who raise funds to provide vital care and support to children with mental, physical and social needs.
The support is provided to individuals and their families directly or via the institutions that deliver the vital care required to improve a child’s quality of life.
This takes many different forms, including purchasing essential equipment, funding various types of physical and psychological therapy and paying for essential operations.
Jackie Quirk from ACCA Kids said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the professionals who took part today and donated their appearance fee. We would also like to thank the Tour Players Foundation for matching the total.
“This money will enable us to do so much more for the underprivileged children in the Algarve.
We would like to wish the players a good tournament, and we are looking forward to the rest of the week.”
Thomas Björn, Chairman of the Tournament Committee, said: “It’s great to see the players getting behind the Official Charity this week. It’s our pleasure to contribute to the fundraising for ACCA Kids as they help so many children in the Algarve.
“Along with our donations and the fund-matching from the Tour Players Foundation, we hope to make a positive impact on the local community.”
Peter Adams, Championship Director of the Portugal Masters, said: “We really appreciate the generosity of the players in giving the charity fundraising campaign this week a fantastic start by donating their Pro-Am fee.
“With the fund matching from the Tour Players Foundation, €8,000 is a significant sum.”
Spectators attending the popular tournament, which includes a host of European Tour champions and Ryder Cup stars including José Maria Olazábal, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Francesco Molinari, Björn, Martin Kaymer, Ross Fisher and 2012 winner Shane Lowry, will be invited to support ACCA Kids by making donations in exchange for the Official Daily Drawsheet and Official Programme, a minimum suggested of €1 and €3 respectively.
