How Ernie Els built the stage for the Portugal Invitational

By: Alexandra Stilwell

Photo: Portugal Invitational

As host and architect of the Portugal Invitational, Ernie Els flips the back nine, perfects every bunker, and invites the world to fall in love with his Portuguese playground

Under the Algarve sun, Ernie Els is in his element. The four-time major champion isn’t just teeing off at the Portugal Invitational – he’s the host, the architect, and the understated star of his own show. Speaking to the press yesterday, he said: “We’re almost getting to game time now,” he said, taking in the view over his reimagined Els Club. “Tomorrow the whole thing starts. Very excited.”

What was once a favourite holiday course for Els has been transformed into a sleek championship layout, thanks to one bold idea: flip the back nine. “I always felt like the 18th hole was such a tough hole with the water left and 480 yards into the wind,” he says. “In my head I always thought, how would it feel if we played it, at least the 18th hole, backwards. Then it snowballed from there.”

The Els Club Vilamoura (Photo: Jacob Sjoman

Working with long-time design partner Greg Letsche, he reversed holes, moved greens and turned the closing stretch into a dramatic, gallery-ready finish. The new 17th has become a signature moment. “Now playing it down, you’ve got water left, and you can see it all the way down to the green,” he explains. “The green is basically where the tee used to be, so it’s a total reverse.”

This is no vanity project. Els knows every bunker for a reason. “At least I know where not to go,” he laughs. “I know why I put certain bunkers there; it’s for certain shots. I’ve just got to try and beat my own mind this week.” The course is presented in immaculate, almost indulgent condition. “The greens are very true, the fairways are in immaculate shape,” he says. “We’ve got a lot of scorable holes, a lot of par 5s, a lot of par 3s. You play those well, you should shoot under par.”

For Els, the setting is as important as the scoring. He’s been slipping quietly into this corner of Portugal for more than 25 years. “For all this time it was just a vacation for European people,” he says. “But now with Faro opening up to Newark and New York, you’ve got direct flights coming in here. When people put their feet down here in Portugal, they’re going to fall in love with it.” He likens the Algarve to a European West Coast. “There’s not a cloud in the sky this time of the year… the food here’s unbelievable. The local people really enjoy us here. All in all, just come, you’ll see why we like it so much.”

Ernie Els shares a special moment with young golfers during the Els for Autism Foundation’s #GameON Adapted Golf Clinic at Els Club Vilamoura ahead of the inaugural Portugal Invitational

On the fairways, the cast may be over 50, but the golf is anything but nostalgic. “Come see some of the best players who have ever played the game play here,” Els says. “I know we’re a little bit past 50 years of age, but sometimes that’s a good thing. We play probably every kind of shot that’s ever been designed in golf.”

Despite juggling roles as designer, host and competitor, Els seems disarmingly serene. “I’m enjoying this one because I know we’ve got a pretty good product, we’ve got good people behind us,” he says. “I’m a little bit more relaxed than I thought I would be… this one feels good.”

Under the endless Portuguese sun, with a reversed back nine and a course polished to perfection, Ernie Els has created more than a tournament. He’s curated an experience – and now, it’s game time.