The Portugal Masters returns to the Oceânico Victoria course one year on from the success of Englishman Andy Sullivan, who captured his third European Tour win of the 2015 season in Vilamoura.
Sullivan won by a record-breaking, nine-shot margin in last year’s Portugal Masters, also setting a new benchmark for the tournament's lowest aggregate score in the process. Playing alongside Chris Wood in the final pairing, the Nuneaton native added to what was already an unbeatable score by making his birdie putt on the 18th hole to take him to 23 under par for the tournament. Wood and Eduardo De La Riva battled it out for second place with the Spaniard's bogey at the last handing Wood second place on a score of 14 under par.
England's Steve Webster won the inaugural edition of the Portugal Masters back in 2007, taking advantage of perfect scoring conditions to post 25 under in what remains the lowest winning score to par in the tournament's history.
Since then, there have been a number of notable stories at the Portugal Masters including a triumph for Vilamoura resident Alvaro Quiros in 2008 and for Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood in 2009.
In 2011, Tom Lewis claimed victory in just his third start as a professional while a year later Ireland's Shane Lowry prevailed after surviving a thrilling final-day battle with Ross Fisher.
Two years ago, Frenchman Alexander Levy won in just 36 holes after the tournament was curtailed due to inclement weather.
Designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer and opened in 2004, the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course is a championship layout that measures 7,209 yards and plays to a par of 72.
One of five courses at Vilamoura, the Oceanico Victoria hosted the World Cup of Golf back in 2005, when Stephen Dodd and Bradley Dredge of Wales triumphed.
With generous fairways and gentle rough, there are plenty of birdies to be had but with several lakes and hazards framing the course, there is certainly a risk-and-reward element to many holes.
Great care has been taken to ensure the preservation of the surrounding wetlands and natural vegetation, including carob, olive and almond trees.
Want to play the very golf course that will host its tenth Portugal Masters event this autumn? Competitive packages are available now via theEuropean Tour Travel Club.
