This week sees the inaugural hosting of the Senior Open de Portugal on the European Senior Tour at the Vidago Palace golf course.
Having never had the event on the calendar in previous years it is the first time all of the competitors will have seen the venue. The par 72 course measures in excess of 6800 yards so is one of the shortest on the European Senior Tour and scoring is expected to be particularly good. The course was only built in 1936 but has bedded in extremely well thanks to the local pink granite that is a few feature of the development, sourced from a number of old field boundary wall, salvaged for this project.
Gary's last European Senior Tour outing saw him finish just outside the top 50 in Russia on a 'bombers' golf course however the tighter and shorter Vidago Palace course will be far more appealing to Gary's eye and look for him to challenge the top of the leader board this week.
Gary begins the event on Friday morning teeing off at 10.20 alongside Andrew Sherborne and Mike Harwood.
To follow all the live scoring from Portugal please check out the European Senior Tour website at: http://www.europeantour.com
Everyone at Champions and all of Gary's sponsors wish him the best of luck for Portugal.