Portuguese Open Returns To PGA Aroeira Lisboa After 29-Year Hiatus

13 Mar 1997: Seve Ballesteros of Spain in action during the 1997 Portuguese Open at the Aroeira Club, Lisbon, Portugal. \ Mandatory Credit: Tim Matthews /Allsport

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The Portuguese Open (Open de Portugal) makes a course change for the first time in six years, showcasing PGA Aroeira Lisboa for the next three.

The Portuguese Open, played at Royal Óbidos for the past six years, has crowned big-name PGA Tour professionals on their way to stardom. Garrick Higgo, Marco Penge, Adrian Meronk, Matt Wallace and Thomas Bjørn have all won the event.

This year’s Open brings the tournament back to PGA Aroeira after a 29-year hiatus. The course last hosted the event in 1997, when Michael Jonzon of Sweden won with a 19-under-par 269.

“It’s been a wonderful afternoon. I got a straight start, I actually didn’t feel very nervous at all. I was hitting the ball really good on the first nine and I had an unfortunate break on number ten,” Jonzon said in tournament footage on the DP World Tour. “My caddie saw the ball and didn’t see where it went. It probably stayed up there.”

The course’s main defense is trees. The pines tower around the property, encircling every fairway, tee box and green with vertical hazards.

“Aroeira is another example of the legacy of Frank Pennink, English-born creator of the Old Course at Vilamoura and Palmares in the Algarve, whose talent and concept of letting nature dictate course strategy wherever possible has stood the test of time,” wrote Michael Gedye in his Golfer’s Guide Portugal. “The holes wind through tall avenues of pine, with lush Bermuda fairways enlivened by birdsong and a colourful carpet of wild flowers. Each hole presents a different challenge; each is separate from the rest and all are notable for the complete absence of fairway bunkers. It is easy to remove trees to form a golf course; Pennink’s skill lay in knowing which to leave, and it is these which ordain play, rendering additional hazards unnecessary.”

José María Olazábal was in the hunt in 1997, when he ranked 42nd in the world at the end of the year. Darren Clarke also finished in the tournament’s top 10 and ended the year ranked 36th in the world.

Hugo Townsend of Sweden comes into the tournament ranked first in HotelPlanner TOUR points. The 27-year-old was born two years after the last playing of the Open at the course.

The course plays shorter than others on tour, but with fairways that rarely play straight and rough that quickly transitions into hard-packed sand topped by pine needles, many players may opt for something less than driver off the tee.

In addition to hosting the event, PGA Aroeira will undergo some facility changes. The club has installed new tees for the event and has broken ground on a new luxury resort.

“This is the start of a new era for Aroeira – one that golfers, like everyone here, will be very excited about,” said Nuno Sepulveda, co-CEO at Details – Sports, Hospitality, Leisure – PGA Aroeira Lisboa’s management company.

“It is our ambition for PGA Aroeira Lisboa to set a new standard for golf in Portugal, blending tradition and innovation under the esteemed PGA brand. With our world-class facilities and two fantastic golf courses, we look forward to welcoming golfers from all over the world.”

Despite the changes to the course and surrounding land, the course remains an affordable option, with inexpensive tee times, an affordable membership and youth-play options. PGA Aroeira is moving into the future while remaining a refuge for up-and-coming players.

The tournament will be held September 17-20 with coverage available on SkySports in the UK and Portugal and on HBO Max in select regions.

Timothy is a founding member of Break80 Golf and a contributing golf and sports writer for Forbes with PGA Tour and LIV Golf media credentials. Timothy can be reached at break80podcast@gmail.com for inquiries or story leads.