There is no oddly coloured jacket for the winner but the tournament name and the fact it is played at the same venue every year (designed by one of the game’s greats in Arnold Palmer) gives a sense of what organisers are going for.

The tournament attracts a decent European field most years and while the Tour’s biggest stars will likely return next week in Dubai ahead of the season ending Tour Championship there is much for this week’s field to play for.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: South African George Coetzee reached 16-under in 2020 to pip Laurie Canter by two strokes.

COURSE: Vilamoura is Portugal’s leisure playground, a sprawling area of southern coastline dedicated to relaxing pursuits of every imaginable kind, golf included.

RIGHT: George Coetzee poses with the trophy in 2020. PHOTO: Andrew Redington/Getty Images.

There are six courses in the region with the Arnold Palmer designed Victoria the most recent addition in 2004.

Purpose built for the hosting of professional golf events yet still servicing a predominantly tourist market, the layout receives mixed reviews from holidaymakers.

A water heavy back nine causes plenty of trouble for handicap players though pros have little issue with it as the annual scoring would suggest.

Last year’s winning total of 16-under was the highest in the event’s history with the 20-under-par barrier breached in half the 14 events to date.

The European Tour’s only official 59 was also shot at this course, Oliver Fisher recording the score in the second round in 2018.

As is apparently the way with these things there is a loop of holes around the turn nicknamed ‘Victoria’s Corner’ which seem to impress most who play here.

The 11th, 12th and 13th cover the range of possibilities being a par-4, par-5 and par-3 and wrap around a central lake where the water is a constant feature on the left.

The 18th hole has also been the site of plenty of tournament closing drama over the years, including newly minted PGA Tour winner Lucas Herbert finding water on the 72nd hole in 2018 to hand victory to England’s Tom Lewis.

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PRIZEMONEY: EU1,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: There’s a solid mix of youngsters and veterans in this week’s field from Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn through to the Hojgaard twins, Rasmus and Nicolai.

The latter two won’t be without a chance having both won on Tour already this year though only Nicolai has been a previous starter here for a T69 result.

Fresh off a runner-up finish at Valderrama, Min Woo Lee is among the players to watch this week in Portugal. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

Australia’s Min Woo Lee – now a two-time Tour winner – comes into the week off a runner-up finish at Valderrama, a performance that will have given him some confidence.

The 23-yerar-old has played this event once previously without great success (T63) though is a much different – and better – player now than he was in 2019.

Lee will also take some motivation from the success of fellow Australian Lucas Herbert whose maiden PGA Tour victory at the weekend has given his career such a boost.

Lee is a couple of years younger than Herbert though in professional terms they are contemporaries and there will be a sense of ‘if he can do it then I can’ for the West Australian.

Previous winners in the field include Alexander Levy and Andy Sullivan and while neither has been at their best recently a return to the site of former success can turn things around quickly.

72-HOLE RECORD: 261 (Steve Webster, 2007).

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Richard Green (2010).

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Scott Hend and Min Woo Lee.

TV TIMES*

Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am) 
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 LIVE 11pm – 4am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505  11pm – 4am)

*AEDT, check local guides