First played:
1953 (became part of The European Tour International Schedule in 1973)
.
Most wins:
3 – Angel Miguel, 1954, 56, 64,
3 – Ramon Sota, 1963, 69, 70
.
Consecutive wins:
Ken Bousfield, 1960-61
Ramon Sota, 1969-70
Sam Torrance, 1982-83
.
Youngest winner:
Howard Clark, 23 in 1978
.
Oldest winner:
Max Faulkner, 52 in 1968
.
*Stats are from 1973 onwards
.
Lowest 18 hole score:
61 (-8), Robert Lee, 1987
.
Lowest first 18 hole score:
61 (-8), Robert Lee, 1987
.
Lowest first 36 hole score:
128 (-10), Robert Lee, 1987
.
Lowest first 54 hole score:
195 (-12), Robert Lee, 1987
.
Lowest 72 hole score:
264 (-24), Colin Montgomerie, 1989
.
Lowest under par winning score:
264 (-24), Colin Montgomerie, 1989
.
Lowest final round by a winner:
63 (-9), Colin Montgomerie, 1989
.
Wire-to-wire-winners:
Salvador Balbuena, 1976, Robert Lee, 1987,
Phillip Price, 1994, Carl Pettersson, 2002
.
Largest 18 hole lead:
3 shots – Robert Lee, 1987, Magnus Persson Atlevi, 1990
.
Largest 36 hole lead:
5 shots – Salvador Balbuena, 1976
.
Largest 54 hole lead:
4 shots – Salvador Balbuena, 1976, Colin Montgomerie, 1989
.
Largest winning margin:
11 shots – Colin Montgomerie, 1989
.
Biggest final round comeback by a winner:
4 shots – Phillip Price, 2001
.
Play-offs:
Jamie Benito beat Bernard Gallacher, 1973
David Gilford beat Jorge Berendt, 1993
Adam Hunter beat Darren Clarke, 1995
Van Phillips beat John Bickerton, 1993
Carl Pettersson beat Davild Gilford, 2002
.
Holes-in-one:
Glenn Ralph, 8th hole, round 2, 1982 (Penina)
Peter Jones, 8th hole, round 3, 1982 (Penina)
José Maria Cañizares, 16th hole, round 3, 1986 (Quinta do Lago)
Des Smyth, 6th hole, round 3, 1988 (Quinta do Lago)
Des Smyth, 4th hole, round 4, 1989 (Quinta do Lago)
John Bland, 11th hole, round 1, 1990 (Quinta do Lago)
Klas Eriksson, 13th hole, round 2, 1998 (Le Meridien Penina)
Gerry Norquist, 13th hole, round 3, 1999 (Le Meridien Penina)
.
Low cut:
143 (-1), 1997
.
High cut:
159 (+15), 1983
.
INTERESTING FACTS
The Algarve Open de Portugal has seen many memorable moments and been the launching pad for many successful careers. In 1987 Robert Lee created European Tour history by becoming the first and so far only player to shoot 27 twice, on his way to victory in 1987. Since the event became part of the European Tour International Schedule in 1973 it has been played 28 times and on 16 ocassions a first-time winner has prevailed. The second debut winner in 1975 was American Hal Underwood, who was playing in his very first European Tour event. Dale Hayes had previously been the only player to achieve that feat at the 1971 Spanish Open. Later in 1975, Underwood’s fellow American Tom Watson won the 104th Open Golf Championship, again on his first start. The Portuguese tournament will long be remembered with fondness by Colin Montgomerie. The first of his 27 European Tour titles was gained in 1989 by 11 shots – which equals the second biggest winning margin in European Tour history.
