Portugal’s first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke-play tournament raises the stakes
– June 19, 2026
Two-time major champion Zach Johnson has been confirmed for the inaugural Portugal Invitational, joining a strong field at The Els Club Vilamoura.
The tournament takes place from July 27 to August 2 and will bring PGA TOUR Champions to Europe for the first time. It will also mark Portugal’s first PGA TOUR-sanctioned individual stroke-play event.
Zach Johnson returns to Portugal for the first time since 2005. He joins Stewart Cink, with the pair currently ranked No 1 and No 2 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, adding an interesting season-long storyline to the Portugal Invitational.
The American won the Masters Tournament at Augusta National in 2007 and The Open Championship at St Andrews in 2015. He has made a strong start on the senior circuit, winning his PGA TOUR Champions debut earlier this year at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational before claiming a second title at the Principal Charity Classic.
The latest victory further highlighted this consistency and competitiveness that have defined his career, which includes 12 PGA TOUR titles, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup appearances, and two major championship victories.
Johnson memorably won the 2007 Masters by two shots at Augusta National, before securing a second major title eight years later at the Home of Golf, defeating Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a play-off to lift the Claret Jug at St Andrews.
He will join a Portugal Invitational field featuring some of the most accomplished names in golf, including Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Pádraig Harrington, José María Olazábal, Darren Clarke, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Stewart Cink, Justin Leonard, Retief Goosen, David Duval, Thomas Bjørn and Ángel Cabrera.
Also confirmed for the 78-player field is Rory Sabbatini, the Olympic silver medallist from Tokyo 2020. The South African-born Slovakian has six PGA TOUR victories and remains a strong competitor on PGA TOUR Champions.
Fellow rookie Ben Crane will also tee up at The Els Club Vilamoura after his recent PGA TOUR Champions team victory alongside Darren Clarke at the American Family Insurance Championship. Crane, a five-time PGA TOUR winner, has made an impressive start on the senior circuit and adds further depth to a field that combines major champions, Ryder Cup players, Hall of Famers and PGA TOUR Champions rookies.
Tournament Director Todd Rhinehart said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the strength and quality of the field for the Portugal Invitational. The response from players has been tremendous, and the addition of Zach Johnson further enhances what is already shaping up to be a very special week of golf.”
“Zach is a proven champion, a respected figure in the game, and exactly the type of player who elevates an event of this stature. This tournament is quickly establishing itself as one of the standout stops on the calendar, and we’re excited about the momentum we’re seeing. We’re not finished yet either, with more player announcements to come in the coming weeks. Portugal provides an incredible setting for world-class golf, and we’re looking forward to welcoming players, partners and spectators for what promises to be a memorable and truly special event.”
The competition will be broadcast in the United States on Golf Channel, the exclusive home of PGA TOUR Champions. International coverage of the 2026 season will reach more than 170 countries and territories through 25 media partners.
Tickets
General admission tickets start from €30, whilst a three-day pass from Friday to Sunday is available from €80.
Children aged 16 and under can enter for free, with one child allowed per ticketed adult.