Portugal’’s long and enduring commitment to the European Tour will be strengthened further in 1999 with the news that the country famed for its formidable combination of sun and golf will host no fewer than three Volvo Order of Merit tournaments this year.
The stunning Penha Longa course, which staged the Portuguese Opens in 1994 and 1995, will be the venue for a new event, the Estoril Open, to be played just 25kms from the beautiful capital city of Lisbon.
It means that European Tour Members will be playing for a total of 1,605,000 euro over the three tournaments, two of which are on the Portuguese mainland and the other on the sunshine island of Madeira. The Estoril Open will have a total prize fund of 560,000 euro.
The exciting ‘Portuguese Swing’’ kicks off on March 4-7 with the Portuguese Algarve Open at Le Meridien, Penina. That is followed by the Madeira Island Open on March 25-28 with the Estoril Open slotting into the European Tour the week after the Masters Tournament, from April 15-18.
Joao Lagos, of promoters Joao Lagos Sports, said: "With the Estoril Open and the other Portuguese events in 1999 we are achieving a long-standing goal. We anticipated a desire among sporting bodies across Europe to organise events and we feel we are leading the way.
"It is good for Portugal and the resorts themselves to host top events of any sport. To host three European Tour events in Portugal is a unique achievement and they are all sure to be a great success."
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of the European Tour, said: "We are delighted to be returning to Penha Longa and to have established a Volvo Order of Merit event in the Estoril Region.
"The European Tour and Joao Lagos Sports have worked closely over a three year period and, by promoting a third Volvo Order of Merit event, they have clearly demonstrated their commitment to the Tour.
"On behalf of the European Tour, I would like to express my sincere appreciation of their support."
Welshman Phil Price triumphed at Penha Longa in 1994, leading from start to finish over the spectacularly located course, in the heart of the golden triangle of Sintra, Estoril and Cascais.
Then in 1995 Adam Hunter of Scotland captured his first European Tour title when he overcame Darren Clarke - second in last season’’s Volvo Order of Merit - in a play-off.
Once again, the combination of a glorious venue and the backing of Joao Lagos Sports is guaranteed to make the newest tournament on the Portuguese segment of the Tour schedule a rewarding and popular event.
