More star golfers join Europe’s first PGA TOUR Champions event this July

Langer, Harrington, Olazábal join Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie for the $3 million tournament

– May 15, 2026

Bernhard Langer
Bernhard Langer brings record‑breaking pedigree to the inaugural Portugal Invitational, as the most successful player in PGA TOUR Champions history headlines the landmark event at The Els Club Vilamoura.

Anticipation continues to build for Europe’s first ever PGA TOUR Champions event, as iconic Majors winners Bernhard Langer, Pádraig Harrington, and José María Olazábal headline the latest stars confirmed for this summer’s Portugal Invitational.

The legendary trio elevates an already impressive line-up including Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie, set to descend on Vilamoura, with the first edition of the event taking place at the Els Club Vilamoura from July 31 to August 2.

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, former world number one David Duval, Ryder Cup icon Thomas Bjørn, and multiple Majors winner Ángel Cabrera have also been confirmed as part of the 78-strong field competing for a $3 million prize purse in the heart of the Algarve.

Widely regarded as the most successful player in PGA TOUR Champions history, Langer continues to redefine longevity at the highest level of the game. The German great holds the all-time record for victories on the senior circuit with 47 wins, has claimed an unprecedented six Charles Schwab Cup titles, and is the only player to record victories in 18 consecutive seasons.

Langer will arrive in Portugal determined to add yet another chapter to his remarkable career as he approaches his 69th birthday later this year.

Pádraig Harrington
Pádraig Harrington

Former Ryder Cup captain and golfing great Pádraig Harrington also adds further depth, continuing a highly successful second chapter of his career on the PGA TOUR Champions. One of the most consistent performers on the senior circuit, the Irishman has amassed multiple victories since turning 50, including two US Senior Open titles, and remains a regular contender in the season’s biggest events.

José María Olazábal
Two‑time Masters champion José María Olazábal is set to compete on home soil as he joins a star‑studded field for Europe’s first‑ever PGA TOUR Champions event in Portugal.

Sixty-year-old Olazábal, who claimed the prestigious green jacket in 1994 and 1999, is eyeing his first PGA TOUR Champions success, this time on his home continent.

 “It’s always an honour to compete alongside so many great champions, many of whom I have shared important moments with throughout my career. Events like this are a celebration of the game’s history and the level of competition remains incredibly high.,” he says.

“To be competing at a course designed by Ernie is very special, especially as it is so close to home! The Algarve is a wonderful destination for golf, and it will be great to experience another tournament in front of some fantastic European support.”

Duval, who was one of Tiger Woods’ most prominent rivals during the late 1990s, adds further prestige to the field. The American captured The Open Championship in 2001 and will also be seeking his maiden PGA TOUR Champions title in his fourth season on the circuit, bringing a mix of experience, competitiveness, and global recognition to Portugal’s historic first PGA TOUR‑sanctioned event.

Duval, who won 13 PGA Tour titles during a peak stretch from 1997–2001, will return after attending the launch of The Els Club last summer, where the sense of expectation and tournament buzz began to build following the event’s announcement.

Tournament director Todd Rhinehart added: “The breadth and quality of players being confirmed really demonstrates the momentum behind the Portugal Invitational.

“To see so many major champions, Ryder Cup figures and global winners coming together for our inaugural event underlines the significance of bringing PGA TOUR Champions to Portugal for the first time.”

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.

Details

Early-bird tickets will be running until June 1. General admission tickets start from €20, whilst a three-day pass from Friday to Sunday is available from €50.

Children aged 16 and under can enter for free, with one child allowed per ticketed adult.

A range of Pro-Am and hospitality experiences is also available, offering guests the exclusive opportunity to tee it up alongside some of the most decorated golfers in the history of the game.

For further details, contact [email protected].

Volunteer registration is also open for those who would like to get close to the action and support the event. Sign-up is available at portugalinvitational.com.