57.º Open de Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort
RICARDO SANTOS
FIGHT FOR # 1
Ricardo Santos is one of four players with mathematical chances of moving to the top position of the “Race for Mallorca”, the Challenge Tour ranking, next Sunday, depending on the results he makes at the 57th Portuguese Open @ Morgado Golf Resort, which starts Thursday in Portimão.
The 36-year-old Algarvian is ranked 4th in the European second division hierarchy this week, a consequence of his win at Swiss Challenge, in June and other good results as 2nd place at the D + D REAL Czech Challenge in May, and 3rd place at the Rolex Trophy (also in Switzerland) in August.
According to José Correia, president of PGA Portugal, in an interview this afternoon with the tournament’s Facebook account, “Ricardo Santos has already practically secured the European Tour next year and Filipe Lima is working on that.” José Correia referred to the fact that Ricardo Santos is well ranked in the ranking and everything indicates that he will finish the season in the top-15 which will be promoted to the first division of European professional golf.
Ricardo Santos at Open Portugal @ Morgado Golf Resort
With that pressure off his shoulders, Ricardo Santos can now play more freely and the goal of being the 2019 Challenge Tour # 1 – a feat Ricardo Melo Gouveia achieved in 2015 – could be important in keeping him focused and ambitious.
«My goal is to be ranked as high as possible in the ranking. As such, winning the ranking is within my goals, ”the former double national champion told Tee Times Golf Agency in June.
For the third year in succession, Morgado Golf Resort hosts the Open de Portugal with the course in finer shape than ever. Morgado Golf Course has the features of a links course, but instead of being close to the sea, is placed in an area of parkland which, despite its location, receives harsh winds from the coast which is situated just a few kilometres away. The course has been closed to the public for five weeks which has allowed the greenkeepers to prepare it thoroughly, with the fairways in perfect condition and the rough nice and thick, offering a real test to this week’s field.
Morgado Golf Resort
The 57th Portuguese Open @ Morgado Golf Resort starts at 7:30 am, with a record of 18 Portuguese competing, including Filipe Lima, last year’s runner-up. The Challenge Tour’s only Portuguese tournament, with 200,000 euros in prize money, features 12 of the 16 players who have won Challenge Tournaments this year and 11 of the top 15 in the Majorca Race. A luxury!
