DID YOU KNOW – OPEN DE PORTUGAL AT MORGADO GOLF RESORT
• Pablo Martin Benavides made European Tour history when he became the first amateur to win, claiming the Open de Portugal in 2007. His performance beat the previous best by an amateur in an official European Tour event of tied third by Nick Flanagan at the 2004 ANZ Championship. Since the Spanish player’s triumph two more amateurs have WON. They are: Danny Lee (2009 Johnnie Walker Classic) and Shane Lowry (2009 Irish Open).
• The Open de Portugal is making a return to the European Tour International Schedule for the first time since 2010 when the 2018 European Ryder Cup Captain, Thomas Bjørn claimed the title.
• On his way to victory in the 1987 Open de Portugal, staged at Estoril Golf Club, Robert Lee created European Tour history by becoming the first and only player to have shot 27 twice. The magic figure occurred in round one en route to a 61. The Englishman compiled his first 27 in the 1985 Monte Carlo Open. Other golfers to achieve the feat are: José Maria Cañizares (1978 Swiss Open), Joakim Haeggman (1997 Alfred Dunhill Cup), Simon Khan (2004 Celtic Manor Wales Open), Andrew Coltart (2007 KLM Open) and Sergio Garcia (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational).
• Since the event became part of the European Tour International Schedule in 1973, it has seen many players claim their maiden European Tour title. They include: Jamie Benito (1973), Hal Underwood (1975), Salvador Balbuena (1976), Manuel Ramos (1977), Howard Clark (1978), Tony Johnstone (1984), Warren Humphreys (1985), Mike Harwood (1988), Colin Montgomerie (1989), Mike McLean (1990), Phillip Price (1994), Adam Hunter (1995), Michael Jonzon (1997), Van Phillips (1999), Gary Orr (2000) , Carl Pettersson (2002), Pablo Martin Benavides (2007) and Michael Hoey (2009).
• The Morgado Golf Resort is playing host to a European Tour event for the first time. Since the event became part of the European Tour in 1973 the venue is the 13th different course to host Portugal’s national open.
• The 2017 Open de Portugal is being dual-ranked with the European Challenge Tour for the first time. Other tournaments that have had this status are the North West of Ireland Open, Madeira Islands Open, Saint Omer Open and NH Collection Open.
• Michael Hoey is bidding to become a multiple winner of the event, having claimed his maiden European Tour victory back in 2009.
• Michael Hoey is one of five players in the field to have won a European Tour event in Portugal. The other four are, Steve Webster (2007 Portugal Masters), Alvaro Quiros (2008 Portugal Masters), Richard Green (2010 Portugal Masters) and Tom Lewis (2011 Portugal Masters).
