Date: October 11-14, 2012

Location: Vilamoura, Portugal

Course: Oceanico Victoria Golf

European Tour Golf Betting Odds: The Portugal Masters is a European Tour men's professional golf tournament which was played for the first time in October 2007. The prize fund was $3 million, making it the richest golf tournament in the country, and comfortably in the top half of European Tour events. It is jointly staged by The European Tour and the Portuguese Tourist Board (ITP) under an initial three year agreement. The host course is the Arnold Palmer designed Oceanico Victoria Golf Club in Vilamoura.

The biggest attraction will be Portugal’s emerging sibling superstars – Ricardo and Hugo Santos – and they can expect an enthusiastic homecoming at the Portugal Masters. The Santos brothers became the first Portuguese team to qualify for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup since 2008.

The Portugal Masters is tournament which has produced many memorable moments and distinguished champions, with Lee Westwood pinpointing his win there in 2009 as a pivotal moment in capturing the inaugural Race to Dubai crown and ascending to the Number One spot in the Official World Golf Ranking a year later.

The Arnold Palmer-designed par-72 Oceanico Victoria Golf Course was opened in 2004 and hosted the World Golf Championships – Algarve World Cup in Portugal a year later. Other Champions include England’s Steve Webster, and Spaniard Alvaro Quirós.

2011 Portugal Masters Winner - Lewis leaps 455 places in world rankings after Open star wins in third event as a professional

Tom Lewis has moved from 621st to 166th in the world rankings after his stunning victory at the Portugal Masters.

In just his third event as a professional, the 20-year-old Englishman finished off a remarkable final round 65 with four birdies in his last five holes to leapfrog two members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team last year in Peter Hanson and Martin Kaymer, and a three-time winner this year in Thomas Bjorn.

For Lewis, 65 is clearly the magic number. He looked a rare talent when he jointly led The Open Championship in July following just such a score in the opening round at Royal St George’s.

This, however, was something else. To put this victory in perspective, Tiger Woods won his first pro tournament in his fifth start, while Rory McIlroy needed 38 attempts.

This was an afternoon that changed everything with regard to Lewis’s immediate future. At the start of his round it was odds-on that he was heading for the qualifying school in December to try to earn a card to play on tour next year, an experience he admitted he was ‘dreading.’

Five hours of brilliance later, and the man from Welwyn Garden City who never cared much for school can forget all about the golfing version as well, for not only does this victory earn him playing privileges for next year, but the one after that.

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