Having taken a two-week break to watch their very best royally trounce the American side to claim yet another Ryder Cup, the European Tour starts running on all cylinders again this week with the Portugal Masters as players scrap for one of the precious few remaining spots in the Race to Dubai field.
The two biggest names in the field are former Major winners Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington; along with Thongchai Jaidee, Francesco Molinari, Matteo Manassero and Alvaro Quiros.
The tournament is being held at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura, Portugal. Forty-year-old David Lynn returns as the defending champion, but his path hasn’t been that glamorous in the past 12 months; he has only finished in the top 25 in one tournament since – that the Omega European Masters in early September.
“I’m hoping there is going to be some sort of inspiration again to get me going this week,” Lynn told reporters in advance of the tournament on Wednesday. “I suppose there is a little bit of extra pressure (as defending champion) but every week comes with its own pressure as you put pressure on yourself to perform again this week.”
Lynn will tee off in Thursday’s first round at 12:50 p.m. local time along with Finland’s Mikko Ilonen and the UK’s Oliver Wilson.
The Oceanico Victoria is an Arnold Palmer designed, par-72, 6,651 meter course which opened in 2004 and has hosted the Portugal Masters since 2007.
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