The Portugal Masters will host the first pro-am on the European Tour since the full resumption of the 2020 Race to Dubai, when a controlled pilot event takes place at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura, on Wednesday September 9, 2020.
A reduced field of 48 amateurs will compete in 24 teams consisting of two amateurs - reduced from the usual three - and one professional, as the European Tour works closely with partners Turismo de Portugal to trial the return of the popular Wednesday pro-am concept.
Typically a feature of tournament weeks on the Race to Dubai, the traditional Wednesday events were paused as part of the European Tour’s stringent medical strategy, which has underpinned the return to golf following the break in the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the medical strategy continues to evolve based on Government and public health guidelines, the number of people on site remains strictly controlled to minimise risk, but a new inner and outer “tournament bubble” concept has paved the way for next week’s pro-am trial ahead of the Portugal Masters on September 10-13.
While competitors and essential staff remain within the inner bubble, with testing controlled by European Tour partner Cignpost, a new partnership with Algarve Biomedical Centre will allow the amateur pro-am participants to be tested separately and enter a new outer bubble.
Every amateur will be tested by Algarve Biomedical Centre on Tuesday September 8, at a designated testing facility. If they receive notification of a negative test, they will then be allowed to return to site on Wednesday morning to compete. Throughout their time on site, they will be kept within the separate outer bubble, only coming into contact with the inner bubble when they step on the first tee, at which point social distancing will be extended to three metres to further minimise risk.
They will also complete the same temperature check and health questionnaire that all personnel within the inner bubble undergo, as well as following the hygiene and health protocols on site.
Portugal Masters Championship Director Peter Adams: “We have worked hard alongside our partners Turismo de Portugal and our Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray to develop the logistics that have allowed the return of the popular pro-am here at the Portugal Masters.
“It’s very important that we continue to minimise risk at all times to protect the professionals, amateurs, and other personnel on site, and our aim is to give both the players and the amateurs comfort around the return of pro-ams to the European Tour. We thank Turismo de Portugal for their assistance, particularly in recommending Algarve Biomedical Centre, who have been approved by Dr Andrew Murray.”
The Portugal Masters has been an established event on the European Tour since 2007, and this year forms part of a new “Iberian Swing”, following the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters, and preceding the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos.
While the event will be played behind closed doors as part of the European Tour’s medical strategy, a host of stars including Ryder Cup star and World Number 16 Tommy Fleetwood, defending champion Steven Brown, former winners Lucas Bjerregaard and Alex Levy, along with local favourite Ricardo Gouveia, will tee it up at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.
