– The 1996 Open Champion joins a 78-player field featuring five World Golf Hall of Fame members and six Ryder Cup captains.

– Six Ryder Cup captains and 18 Ryder Cup players headline a field boasting 224 PGA TOUR wins, 247 PGA TOUR Champions titles and 20 major championship victories

– The full 78-player field for the inaugural Portugal Invitational is available at www.portugal invitational.com

The partnerships support the tournament’s commitment to a more responsible event model, helping reduce operational impact while enhancing the player, fan and course experience.

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. 

“The strength and depth of this field is a fantastic reflection of what the Portugal Invitational represents in its very first year,” said Todd Rhinehart, Tournament Director of the Portugal Invitational. “To bring together major champions, World Golf Hall of Fame members, Ryder Cup captains and players from across the world at The Els Club Vilamoura is incredibly exciting, and we are looking forward to welcoming them to Portugal next week.” 

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. 

The Portugal Invitational will be broadcast live in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive home of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, coverage of the 2026 PGA TOUR Champions season will reach more than 170 countries and territories through a network of 25 global broadcast partners.