– The 1996 Open Champion joins a 78-player field featuring five World Golf Hall of Fame members and six Ryder Cup captains.
Seis capitães da Ryder Cup e 18 jogadores da Ryder Cup lideram um leque de participantes que soma 224 vitórias no PGA TOUR, 247 títulos no PGA TOUR Champions e 20 vitórias em majors.
A lista completa dos 78 jogadores inscritos na edição inaugural do Portugal Invitational está disponível em www.portugalinvitational.com
As parcerias reforçam o compromisso do torneio com um modelo de evento mais responsável, contribuindo para reduzir o impacto operacional e melhorar a experiência de jogadores, espectadores e do próprio campo
Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal – July 21, 2026 – With just over a week to go until the inaugural Portugal Invitational tees off, former Open Champion and Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman has been confirmed as the latest major name in a world-class 78-player field set to compete at The Els Club Vilamoura from 31 July to 2 August.
Lehman, a five-time PGA TOUR winner, former World No. 1 and winner of The Open Championship in 1996, brings even more major championship pedigree to Vilamoura. The American also captained the United States at the 2006 Ryder Cup and has enjoyed an outstanding career across both the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions.
His addition further strengthens a field featuring some of the most accomplished and recognisable players of their generation. Darren Clarke, Steven Alker, K.J. Choi, Justin Leonard and Y.E. Yang will also compete in Portugal, joining previously announced stars including Ernie Els, Pádraig Harrington, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Retief Goosen, Stewart Cink, Zach Johnson and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.
Together, they form a field that brings an exceptional level of experience and success to the first edition of the Portugal Invitational. The 78 players travelling to Vilamoura represent 17 different countries and include five members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, six Ryder Cup captains and 18 players who have competed in one of sport’s most prestigious team events.
Between them, the field has accumulated 224 PGA TOUR victories and 247 PGA TOUR Champions titles, alongside 20 major championship wins and 44 PGA TOUR Champions major victories.
“"A força e a dimensão deste leque de participantes são um reflexo fantástico do que o Portugal Invitational representa logo no seu primeiro ano", afirmou Todd Rhinehart, Diretor do Torneio. "Reunir campeões de majors, membros do World Golf Hall of Fame, capitães da Ryder Cup e jogadores de todo o mundo no The Els Club Vilamoura é incrivelmente entusiasmante, e estamos ansiosos por recebê-los em Portugal já na próxima semana."
The tournament will bring PGA TOUR Champions to Portugal for a landmark first edition at The Els Club Vilamoura, with three days of competition featuring many of the biggest names in senior golf. The tournament has also attracted a strong and diverse group of partners, underlining the interest generated by the event ahead of its first edition. Arrow Global, Vilamoura, Visit Portugal and Visit Algarve are joined by Mercedes-Benz, Kress, Reflo, Dils, Deloitte, Lusíadas Saúde, Loulé, Heritage Wines, Heineken, Nespresso, Pacheca, Vista Alegre and Inframoura, alongside media partners SIC Notícias, Expresso, Sport TV and JCDecaux. Their support provides a strong platform for the tournament’s debut and helps build momentum for the continued growth of the Portugal Invitational in the years ahead.
O Portugal Invitational será transmitido em direto nos Estados Unidos pelo Golf Channel, canal oficial do PGA TOUR Champions. A nível internacional, a temporada de 2026 do PGA TOUR Champions chegará a mais de 170 países e territórios, através de uma rede de 25 parceiros de transmissão.
