ALGARVE, Portugal – Officials from PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve announced Monday a five-year partnership to host a new professional golf tournament in Portugal.

The inaugural Portugal Invitational will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players, including World Golf Hall of Fame and PGA TOUR Champions members, as well as Legends Tour members. The event will mark the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke play event to be held in Portugal and will feature a purse of $3 million. It will follow the ISPS HANDA Senior Open and precede the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship on the Legends Tour in a compelling three-week swing of European golf featuring some of the game’s most iconic players.

“We are thrilled to partner with Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, Turismo de Algarve and Ernie Els to announce this exciting, first-of-its-kind PGA TOUR Champions event in Portugal,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady. “This Tour is a global showcase of the game’s legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.”

The event will be contested at The Els Club Vilamoura, which is designed by Ernie Els – a seven-time PGA TOUR Champions winner and World Golf Hall of Fame member. The newly-redesigned Els Club hosted the DP World Tour’s Portugal Masters from 2007 through 2022, producing winners such as Open Champion Shane Lowry (2012) and World Golf Hall of Fame member and current PGA TOUR Champions star Padraig Harrington (2016). Portugal’s only prior hosting of a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event came at the 2005 World Cup of Golf, a former team competition.

“Whenever our firm designs a golf course, we always have an eye on what makes it a successful tournament venue, so this was always a big part of our plans for The Els Club Vilamoura," said Els. "It’s wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we’re grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.

"Working with Arrow Global and everyone at Vilamoura has been an absolute pleasure these past few years; they had a clear vision and mission from the get-go, which allowed us to focus our efforts on creating the very best golf course that we could. We’re very proud of this course; it looks incredible. There are a lot of great holes, a lot of memorable holes, and overall, it’s a really well-balanced test of golf. The practice facilities here are world-class, too. Everything about The Els Club Vilamoura makes it the ideal tournament venue. The players are going to love it, not just the golf course but this whole destination. It’s such a beautiful part of the world.”

Vilamoura is one of the Algarve’s most refined towns, with pristine beaches, wineries, olive groves, fleur de sel fields and more. Guests interested in local exploration can explore the legendary Ria Formosa islands and encounter unique ecosystems as fishermen harvest oysters, clams and other local delicacies. Nearby Loulé, Portugal, is a hilly region with ancient ruins and a charming local market, whilst the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail is a spectacular 11.5-kilometer coastal hike.

“This announcement signifies the convergence of several heavyweights in the game of golf; the renowned golf destination of the Algarve, the might of Ernie Els' design, and the legendary golfers who will compete on these fairways. For Arrow Global, this is a major step in realizing our vision for Portugal as one of the best global golf and lifestyle destinations, and we believe this tournament will showcase the world-class quality of the course and the strength of our long-term commitment to the region,” said John Calvão, Arrow Global Group Fund principal. “We’ve made a significant investment in the destination, elevating it with world-class hotels, a completely renovated marina, upgraded golf courses and a high-end equestrian center. We’re also further developing high-quality real estate that reflects the lifestyle our guests and residents seek. Soon, we’ll be adding a country club and a beach club, making this a destination that truly has everything for families and all generations to enjoy.”

"Portugal has increasingly become a world-class destination for major international sporting events and welcoming PGA TOUR Champions is a natural next step in that journey,” said Carlos Abade, president of Turismo de Portugal. “This tournament will not only showcase the excellence of our golf courses but also the beauty, culture and hospitality that make Portugal a unique destination year-round. We are proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to welcoming players and fans from around the world to the Algarve.”

“Hosting the Portugal Invitational in Vilamoura is a historic milestone for the Algarve and for Portugal. This partnership with PGA TOUR Champions further raises our destination’s international profile and confirms the Algarve as an essential reference point in European golf. The Els Club Vilamoura, now the venue for an event of this magnitude, reflects our commitment to combining quality, sustainability and reputation with a distinctive tourist offering capable of attracting elite competitions,” said André Gomes, president of the Algarve Tourism Board. “The Algarve has been Portugal's leading golf destination for decades, with around 1.5 million rounds played annually, and continues to invest in a diverse, contemporary and environmentally responsible offering. This tournament raises the bar and reflects the regional ambition to establish the Algarve as a year-round tourist destination, with a direct impact on the economy, employment and promotion of the region. We are ready to welcome the big names in golf history and show the world everything the Algarve has to offer — on and off the course.”

All three rounds of the Portugal Invitational will be televised on GOLF Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, PGA TOUR Champions coverage is available in more than 170 countries and territories via 22 media partners. The Portugal Invitational will also include members of the Legends Tour through the Strategic Alliance between the PGA TOUR and the European Tour Group (DP World Tour, Hotelplanner Tour, Legends Tour and Ryder Cup Europe).

Longtime PGA TOUR executive Todd Rhinehart, who ran a number of the TOUR’s biggest events and most recently oversaw PGA TOUR Latinoamérica as vice president and executive director, was announced as the tournament director of the Portugal Invitational.