Portugal Masters: Betting Tips, TV Times

Betting Tips and TV Times as the European Tour heads to Vilamoura for the Portugal Masters

The European Tour heads to Vilamoura for the 13th edition of the Portugal Masters this week, and there’s a lot at stake for plenty of players in the field.

With just four events left on the European Tour schedule before the season ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next month, players are either scrambling to keep their Tour cards or hoping to make it to the final event of the season.

Last year, Tom Lewis became the first two-time winner of the event as he added a second Portugal Masters trophy to the one he acquired in 2011, and currently sits at 48th in the Race to Dubai standings.

He returns this week with several other former champions, as well as Oliver Fisher, who played his way in to the history books with the first ever 59 on the European Tour last year. But just don’t expect there to be a repeat performance in 2019.

Why? There have been a lot of changes to the Arnold Palmer design (and surrounding Dom Pedro courses) in the last few months as part of a multi-million euro development strategy that means the Victoria Course ‘will provide a tougher test for the best players in the game.’

The updates include a new warm-weather, more resilient strain of Common Bermuda grass both in the rough and green surrounds, as well as new trees across three holes on the front nine and a new irrigation system that will help keep the course in tournament ready condition all year round.

According to the European Tour’s website, these trees are “Intended to prevent the longest hitters from cutting the corners of doglegs on the second, fifth (both down the left-hand side) and 10th (down the right-hand side, after the bunker), this will have an even greater bearing as the trees mature in the years ahead.”

Date: Oct 24 – 27
Course: Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course, Vilamoura
Race to Dubai Points: 2,750
Prize Fund: $1,500,000
Defending Champion: Tom Lewis

TV Times: Portugal Masters

• Thursday: Sky Sports Main Event (11:30), Sky Sports Golf (11:30), Sky Sports Golf (15:30)

• Friday: Sky Sports Main Event (11:30), Sky Sports Golf (11:30), Sky Sports Golf (15:30)

• Saturday: Sky Sports Golf (13:00)

• Sunday: Sky Sports Golf (12:30)

Portugal Masters: Betting Tips

Matt Wallace: 9/1
This week’s betting favourite Matt Wallace comes to Portugal after a T7 at the Italian Open, which was his second top 10 in his last four starts (the other being a third place at the KLM Open). T39-T44 in two starts here. Ranks 8th stroke average, 10th putts per GIR, 33rd for GIR. 

Martin Kaymer: 16/1
Kaymer ended a bad run of form with a T5 at Le Golf National last week, which is one of four top 10s in 2019. Making his first start in this event since 2015 (T50), and has a best of T8 in five starts. Ranks 1st for GIR and 21st stroke average on the European Tour.

Lucas Bjerregaard: 18/1
The former champion may not be on the best form of late but he does hold a good record here, having gone T9-T12-WIN-T20 in the last four years. Hasn’t finished inside the top 10 anywhere since his 4th place at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play in March, his best since then top 20s at both the Open and PGA Championship, and a T23 at the Dunhill Links a few weeks ago. 

Jordan Smith: 22/1
Smith has been close numerous times this season, recording his fifth top 10 of 2019 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship before following it with a 24th place finish at the Italian Open and a T54 in Paris. T27 on his debut here last year. Ranks 3rd GIR, 27th driving accuracy and 28th Stroke average on the European Tour. 

Tom Lewis: 22/1
Last year Tom Lewis became the first two-time champion of the Portugal Masters as he claimed his second European Tour title on 22-under-par. Heads here following a T5 at the Dunhill Links a few weeks ago, his best result since a T11 at The Open. Ranks 22nd GIR, 47th Stroke average. 

Adri Arnaus: 25/1
Making his tournament debut this week, and one to keep an eye on. Arnaus is a three time runner-up on the European Tour in 2019 – the last time at the Czech Masters – and recently finished T4 at the Open de Espana before a T48 in Italy. Ranks 20th GIR, 23rd driving distance and 57th Stroke average.

Mikko Korhonen: 25/1
Followed up a T17 at the Open de Espana with a T25 at the Italian Open, and has three top-12 finishes at the Portugal Masters, including a tie-for-third in 2016. T12 here last year. Ranks 18th Driving accuracy. 

Joachim B. Hansen: 25/1
His runner up finish at last week’s Amundi Open de France was Hansen’s second top 10 in his last three starts on the European Tour (T4 at the Open de Espana) in addition to a T25 in Italy. T37 in his last start here in 2016. Ranks 22nd average putts per round. 

George Coetzee: 25/1
In six appearances here Coetzee has never finished worse than 31st, with a best of third, and comes to Portugal after a 3rd place at the Open de France – his first top 10 since the ASI Scottish Open in July. Ranks 10th putts per round. 

Sam Horsfield: 30/1
Horsfield hasn’t missed finished outside of the top 50 in his last nine European Tour events, which includes top 10s at the Scandinavian Invitation and D+D Real Czech Masters, as well as a T14 in last week’s Open de France. Hoping to improve on his record here, which reads T59-MC.  Ranks 7th putts per GIR, 27th stroke average on Tour.