The Algarve’s Dom Pedro Victoria Golf course, Vilamoura sparkled in the sun over four days of the 2017 Portugal Masters. Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard began the last day as tournament leader and produced another top performance in the final round to secure his maiden European Tour victory and claim the trophy. Incredibly, the Dane had come to the competition striving to save his tour card but eight birdies in a final round 65 contributed to a winning 20-under par return.
Scotland’s Mark Warren was runner-up following a return of 67 in the final round. South African George Coetzee had threatened for second place before a triple bogey on the 18th scuppered the South African’s challenge. Graeme Storm and fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell were also in the mix, eventually finishing joint third on 15-under.
The other big story of the tournament was the record-breaking performances of Portuguese duo, Filipe Lima and Ricardo Gouveia. By sharing joint 5th place, they secured Portugal’s top ten placings for the first time. With Lucas Bjerregaard aiming to be the event’s first two-time winner next year and the prospect of a Portuguese golfer lifting the trophy, the 2018 Portugal Masters is already shaping up as another memorable occasion for golf in Portugal and the beautiful Algarve.