The draw for the first two rounds of the 2015 Portugal Masters at Oceånico Victoria Golf Club has thrown up some interesting looking threeballs, with the likes of Martin Kaymer and Bernd Wiesberger in action.
Kaymer, who clearly enjoys playing on the Algarve having competed in this event five times, will partner the in-form Søren Kjeldsen and his Ryder Cup teammate from Gleneagles, Stephen Gallacher, over the first two days, with the trio starting from the tenth tee at 08:30 local time on Thursday.
While the German will be keen to register his first European Tour victory of the season, having come so close in Italy three weeks ago, it is Kjeldsen who is playing some of the best golf on The European Tour at the moment.
The plucky Dane, who won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation earlier this year, has finished in the top 15 in six of his last eight European Tour starts.
Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger, who is seventh place in the Race to Dubai rankings, will have defending champion Alexander Levy and England’s Chris Wood for company for the first two rounds, with that group getting their challenges under way from the first tee at 13:00.
With Levy having finished 18 under par through just 36 holes at the rain-shortened Portugal Masters last year, and both Wiesberger and Wood also known for their attacking golf, that group are bound to attract quite a following as they go hunting birdies.
Padraig Harrington, Tommy Fleetwood and Andy Sullivan will be on the first tee ten minutes after the defending champion’s group, in another threeball that is sure to bring out the crowds.
Three-time Major Champion Harrington is a firm favourite wherever he plays, and with a significant Irish presence living on the Algarve, this week will be no different, while Fleetwood and Sullivan are two of the best ball strikers on The European Tour.
The 08:40 tee time from the tenth tee features two players who have won recently, with Thorbjørn Olesen and Thomas Pieters teeing it up alongside Marcel Siem.
Nicolas Colsaerts came within inches of carding the first 59 in European Tour history at last year’s event – the Belgian will have experienced Scottish pair Marc Warren and Paul Lawrie for company on Thursday at 08:20 from the tenth.
Meanwhile, European Ryder Cup Captain Darren Clarke will get up close and personal with home talent Ricardo Gouveia and Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bello from 13:20.
To see the full draw for the first two rounds click here.
