Excitement around the first PGA TOUR Champions event ever held on European soil is reaching fever pitch. Record-breaking legend Bernhard Langer, three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington and two-time Masters champion José María Olazábal have been confirmed as the latest headline additions to the Portugal Invitational, set to take place at The Els Club Vilamoura in the heart of the Algarve from July 27 to August 2, 2026.
The trio joins an already stellar field that includes Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie. Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, former world number one David Duval, Ryder Cup icon Thomas Bjørn and multiple major winner Ángel Cabrera have also been confirmed, bringing the 78-player field a step closer to completion. All 78 competitors will play for a $3,000,000 prize purse in a 54-hole stroke play format — the first official individual PGA TOUR stroke play event ever held in Portugal.
Bernhard Langer: The Greatest Champion in Senior Golf History
Widely regarded as the most successful player in the history of PGA TOUR Champions, Bernhard Langer continues to redefine what is possible at the elite level. The German holds the all-time record of 47 wins on the senior circuit, has claimed a historic six Charles Schwab Cups and remains the only player ever to record victories across 18 consecutive seasons. Approaching his 69th birthday later this year, Langer arrives in Portugal with one ambition: to add another chapter to an extraordinary career.
Pádraig Harrington: Ryder Cup Icon & Senior Tour Force
Former Ryder Cup captain and three-time major champion Pádraig Harrington brings further world-class depth to the field. One of the most consistent performers on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, the Irishman has recorded multiple victories since turning 50 — including two US Senior Open titles — and continues to be a genuine contender at every major event on the calendar.
José María Olazábal: Two-Time Masters Champion Plays Close to Home
Two-time Masters champion José María Olazábal, 60, who claimed the iconic green jacket in 1994 and again in 1999, will be chasing his first PGA TOUR Champions victory when the tournament comes to his home continent. The Basque icon offered his thoughts on the occasion:
“It is always an honour to compete alongside so many great champions, many of whom have been part of important moments throughout my career. Events like this are a celebration of the history of golf and the level of competition remains incredibly high. Playing on a course designed by Ernie is very special, particularly being so close to home. The Algarve is a wonderful golf destination and it will be fantastic to compete with such strong European support.”
David Duval, Retief Goosen, Thomas Bjørn & Ángel Cabrera Also Confirmed for the 2026 Portugal Invitational
David Duval — one of Tiger Woods’ greatest rivals in the late 1990s and winner of The Open Championship in 2001 — brings further global prestige to the field. A 13-time PGA Tour winner between 1997 and 2001, Duval returns to the Algarve having attended The Els Club launch the previous summer, where anticipation for the tournament first began to build. He will be seeking his maiden PGA TOUR Champions victory in his fourth season on the circuit.
Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, Danish Ryder Cup stalwart Thomas Bjørn and multiple major winner Ángel Cabrera round out the latest wave of confirmations, underscoring the Portugal Invitational’s status as a landmark event for global senior golf.
“The breadth and quality of confirmed players is a testament to the momentum building around the Portugal Invitational. Seeing so many major champions, Ryder Cup figures and international winners commit to our inaugural event underlines just how significant it is to bring PGA TOUR Champions to Portugal for the very first time.” — Todd Rhinehart, Tournament Director
Tickets, Hospitality & Pro-Am Experiences for the 2026 Portugal Invitational
Tickets for the Portugal Invitational are now on sale, with early-bird pricing available until June 1, 2026. General admission for the tournament (Friday July 31–Sunday August 2) starts from €20 per day, with a three-day full-competition pass available from €50. Children aged 15 and under gain free entry when accompanied by a ticketed adult (one child per adult ticket).
For those seeking an exclusive experience, Pro-Am packages offer the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play alongside some of the greatest golfers in history on the eve of one of the PGA TOUR Champions’ most valuable prize funds. Bespoke packages combining accommodation, golf and premium hospitality are also available, providing a unique way to enjoy Vilamoura and the Algarve during tournament week. For enquiries, contact: info@portugalinvitational.com.
Volunteer registration is also open for those who want to be part of the action while supporting the local community. Full information on roles, committees and benefits is available at www.portugalinvitational.com.
Broadcast: Golf Channel & 170+ Countries
The Portugal Invitational will be broadcast live in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable TV partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, the 2026 PGA TOUR Champions season will reach more than 170 countries and territories through a network of 25 global broadcast partners.
About The Els Club Vilamoura
The Els Club Vilamoura is the fifth club — and the first in Europe — designed and conceived by four-time major champion Ernie Els. This exclusive destination in Vilamoura joins Copperleaf in South Africa, Els Club Dubai and two clubs in Malaysia, including Teluk Datai and Desaru Coast, both ranked among the Top 100 courses in the world. The centrepiece of The Els Club Vilamoura — one of several prestigious golf properties managed by DETAILS and owned by Arrow Global — is the redesigned 18-hole championship Victoria Course, which will host the Portugal Invitational from July 27 to August 2, 2026. The club also features Ernie Els’ acclaimed 261 Tap Room restaurant, alongside a comprehensive food, beverage and leisure offer.
About the 2026 Portugal Invitational
The Portugal Invitational is a new PGA TOUR Champions event debuting July 27–August 2, 2026 at The Els Club Vilamoura, as part of a five-year collaboration between PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal and Turismo do Algarve. The 78-player field — comprising PGA TOUR Champions members, World Golf Hall of Fame inductees and Legends Tour players — will compete in a 54-hole stroke play format for a $3,000,000 prize purse. Positioned within a three-week European senior golf swing, the Portugal Invitational takes place after the ISPS Handa Senior Open and before the Staysure Senior PGA Championship. All three rounds will be broadcast on Golf Channel, with international coverage reaching more than 170 countries and territories.