One month after Zach Johnson lifted the inaugural Portugal Invitational trophy, the impact of the tournament continues to be felt far beyond the leaderboard.
The successful debut of PGA TOUR Champions in Portugal brought together Major champions, Ryder Cup legends and World Golf Hall of Fame members at The Els Club Vilamoura, showcasing the Algarve to a global audience and marking an important milestone for professional golf in the country.
For tournament host and four-time Major champion Ernie Els, however, the week represented something even more personal. Beyond welcoming many of the game’s greatest names to the course he designed, it was the culmination of a vision that had been years in the making.
Highlights from the inaugural Portugal Invitational at The Els Club Vilamoura,
one month on from a historic first edition.
“My history with this area goes back more than 25 years,” says Els. “When my family and I lived in the UK, this was our holiday destination. I knew the area well long before this project ever existed.”
That long-standing relationship with the Algarve made Vilamoura the obvious choice when the opportunity arose to create the first Els Club in Europe.
“I already knew what made this place special. Great golf, incredible weather, fantastic food and people who genuinely make you feel welcome. When people come here, they understand why so many of us have loved this place for so long.”
Working alongside Greg Letsche, Senior Design Associate and partner at Ernie Els Design, Els set out to transform the former Arnold Palmer layout into a championship venue while creating a course that golfers of every ability could enjoy.
“From the very beginning, we wanted to build a championship golf course, but also one that everyone could enjoy. We wanted players to have options and experience different ways of playing the game.”
For Els, though, the ambition extended far beyond the golf course itself: “We wanted to recreate the kind of holidays my family enjoyed here for so many years; a destination where people who love golf could come with their families and experience everything this region has to offer.”
That vision is now being supported by significant investment across the wider destination, helping position Vilamoura as one of Europe's most premium lifestyle and leisure developments, something which Els himself has expressed his excitement about.
“All I can say is get here now. This is a place you want to be, not only for us, but all kinds of age groups to come and live and holiday.”
That vision naturally evolved into an even bigger ambition: “As the project developed, we wanted to host a PGA TOUR Champions event. I felt this would be the perfect venue.”
The Portugal Invitational became the first opportunity to showcase that vision on the world stage: “It was a very momentous week for us. So much work had gone into the golf course, the clubhouse and the whole infrastructure. Seeing it all come together was something we’re incredibly proud of.
“I’ve been talking this up all the way since last year’s opening, how great this area is and I think everybody’s had a good time, so I’m very thankful to have pulled this one off.”
While Zach Johnson will forever be remembered as the tournament’s first champion, for Els the inaugural Portugal Invitational represented something equally significant: confirmation that The Els Club Vilamoura could deliver world-class championship golf while reflecting everything that first drew him to the Algarve more than two decades ago.
The event not only showcased the course on a global stage, but also highlighted Vilamoura's growing status as one of Europe's leading golf, leisure and lifestyle destinations, underpinned by significant investment and a long-term vision for the future.
“We’re on our way. This was the first big step, but there’s much more to come.” The next chapter is already on the horizon, with the Portugal Invitational set to return to Vilamoura in 2027.
The event also attracted a strong and diverse group of partners, underlining the interest generated around its inaugural edition. Arrow Global, Vilamoura, Visit Portugal and Visit Algarve were joined by Mercedes-Benz, Kress, Reflo, Dils, Deloitte, Lusíadas Saúde, Loulé, Heritage Wines, Heineken, Nespresso, Pacheca, Vista Alegre and InfraMoura.
Media partners included SIC Notícias, Expresso, Sport TV and JCDecaux. Their support provided a strong platform for the tournament’s successful debut and helped establish a solid foundation for the continued growth of the Portugal Invitational in the years ahead.
All three rounds were televised live in the United States on GOLF Channel and in Portugal on Sport TV. International PGA TOUR Champions coverage reached more than 170 countries and territories through the Tour’s global network of media partners.
For more information about the Portugal Invitational, visit https://www.portugalinvitational.
