Algarve Open de Portugal prospers despite bad timing
IN: News | European PGA | Portugal Open (2003) | Preview | by Bruce Young | 15 Apr 2003
The Algarve Open de Portugal, so called because it is played on the southern coast of Portugal in the area known as the Algarve, will again suffer in terms of field quality because of its timing the week following the US Masters. Last year it preceded the Masters but most of the European Tour's best will be either at Hilton Head or making their way home from the US. That, however, has been the case for the Portugese Open for many a year and yet it continues to thrive with prizemoney topping 1,250,000 euros, a record for the event.
The event has often offered an open door for younger players to walk through, as was the case last year when Carl Pettersen won the event. Pettersen is now a USPGA Tour player and already doing very well there.
Recent Madeira Open winner Bradley Dredge may well start as the favourite with Ryder Cup hero and two-time winner of this event Philip Price, Brian Davis, Robert Karlsson and Soren Hansen also in contention. Another who will be of interest is the Englishman John. E. Morgan, who is in his rookie year on the USPGA Tour. Morgan has made four of seven cuts including his recent 44th at the Bell South.
Yet another Henry Cotton designed course, the Vale do Lobo course opened up in 1968 and is one of many in the area influenced by the presence of Cotton who made his base in this region for many years. The Algarve has developed into an outstanding golfing destination for golfers worldwide but more especially the British market. The tournament course is actually a composite of both the Royal and Ocean courses at the resort.
Of the Australasians, many will not be playing in Europe until the Benson & Hedges at the Belfry the second week of May, but Terry Price, Stephen Scahill and Lucas Parsons are entered at this stage.
