Tag: Portugal Masters

‘Time for some more doo-doo in my life’: Thomas Pieters won’t defend Portugal Masters with baby on the way

Currently ranked No. 35 in the world, Pieters has two top-10 finishes in his last four starts.

When the DP World Tour heads to Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course this week for the 2022 Portugal Masters, it’ll do so without defending champion Thomas Pieters.

The 30-year-old Belgian earned his sixth DP World Tour victory at last year’s event but will not defend his title this week as he and his significant other Stefanie van Steen are expecting their second child. 

“Due to the imminent arrival of Baby Pieters I won’t be able to defend my Portugal Masters title this week,” Pieters wrote in a Twitter post. “Time for some more doo-doo in my life … ”

Currently ranked No. 35 in the world, Pieters has been on a good run of form the last two months, finishing T-8 at the Czech Masters and T-3 at the Cazoo Open de France.

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Coetzee takes over Portugal Masters lead, comes close to albatross

George Coetzee leads the Euro Tour’s Portugal Masters after day 3, barely missing out on an albatross at the 17th.

34-year old George Coetzee found himself stuck in a four-way tie for fifth after round one of the Portugal Masters, and he didn’t do himself any favors the following day with a one-under 70. By the end of round three on Saturday, however, the South African sits atop the leaderboard after matching his opening-round score of 66.

Coming off a Sunshine Tour victory in his native country last week, Coetzee made up for a middling start (including a bogey at the 7th) with a blistering finish. He came within inches of holing his second shot at the par-5 17th for albatross before “settling” for an eagle. The South African was equally brilliant at the par-5 18th, birdying one of the most difficult holes on the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

“I kind of felt like I was in a good space today,” Coetzee told the media. “Didn’t really get going on the front nine, and missed a couple of good opportunities on the back nine. And then, when I started finally making them, it was kind of smooth sailing from there.”

LEADERBOARD: Portugal Masters

Julien Guerrier’s third round turned out to be anything but smooth sailing. The Frenchman followed up his first-round 62 and second-round 66 with a disastrous 4-over 75, including a tee shot at at the 15th that sliced well right of the fairway. After relinquishing a five-shot lead, Guerrier now sits T-2 with Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura; both are one shot back of Coetzee. Kawamura, to his credit, improved upon yesterday’s 71 with his third-round 65.

Englishman Laurie Canter, who was third after round one, remains in contention, T-4 with Niklas Lemke of Sweden. Liam Johnston, who scorched the field with an opening-round 61, has fallen back down to Earth, but he managed to stay T-6 after carding 70 on the day. Tommy Fleetwood of England has had a mediocre tournament so far, and he now finds himself T-12 after his second 68 of the week.

The final round of the Portugal Masters will kick off at 2:50 a.m. ET on Sunday in Vilamoura. Coetzee will attempt to secure the win as he tees off with Canter at 7:35 a.m.

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Liam Johnston leads Portugal Masters with career-low 61

Liam Johnston has the lead at the Portugal Masters after carding career-best 61 in the first round.

The sun was shining upon the Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course Thursday for the opening round of the European Tour’s Portugal Masters in Vilamoura. Liam Johnston shined just as brightly.

The 27-year-old Scotsman carded a career-best 61, finishing 10 under on the day. Johnston came within two strokes of matching Oliver Fisher’s groundbreaking round of 59, which he achieved in 2018 during the second round of this very tournament.

After missing a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th, Johnston would have needed an eagle at the final hole to match Fisher’s European Tour record. Although he fell short of doing so, the former Scottish Stroke Play champion wrapped up his excellent day with a par on 18th, demolishing his previous European Tour best of 67 at last year’s Czech Masters. Fisher, meanwhile, was unable to recapture the magic of two years ago as he sits T-66 with an even-par 71.

“I told my coach (James Erskine, the PGA pro at Dumfries & County) back home that I was swinging it as good as I have,” Johnston said in an interview with The Scotsman. “My game feels as it is really trending in the right direction and, more importantly, I have really improved mentally.”

LEADERBOARD: Portugal Masters

Johnston finished the first round with a one-shot lead on Julien Guerrier and his 9-under 62. The 35-year old Frenchman impressed in his own right with nine birdies, including on four of the last five holes. England’s Laurie Canter shot 64 to grab third and Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Caldwell finished fourth with 65.

Four more players currently find themselves in a tie for fifth: Thorbjørn Olesen (Denmark), Goerge Coetzee (South Africa), Matthew Jordan (England) and Sebastian Soderberg (Sweden), all of whom shot 66. Tommy Fleetwood, the highest-ranked golfer in the field, finds himself tied for 21st with a 3 under 68, seven shots back of the lead.

The Portugal Masters will resume early Friday at 2:35 a.m. ET. Johnston will begin his attempt to maintain the lead at 9:50 a.m. as he tees off with a pair of Swedes, Kristoffer Broberg and Anton Karlsson.

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