Latest news with #Vilamoura
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Former major winner Ernie Els is set to host groundbreaking new PGA Tour Champions event in Portugal that has a jaw-dropping $3m prize purse
In a groundbreaking new announcement, four-time major champion Ernie Els is set to host a brand new PGA Tour Champions event, The Portugal Invitational, in 2026. The tournament will mark the first time a PGA Tour-sanctioned individual stroke play event will be hosted in the European country, and will arrive at the South African's newly refurbished Els Club during the week of July 27. The Els Club, which is located in Vilamoura, is set to welcome a field of 78 players, including World Golf Hall of Fame stars and PGA Champions Tour members. Through the Tour's strategic alliance with the DP World Tour, members from the Legends Tour will also be invited to participate. They will all compete for a jaw-dropping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m) across this stunning track, with golfing legends Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez both speaking of their excitement at the news. All three rounds of the event will be televised on the GOLF Channel, with the Portugal Invitational set to be sandwiched between the ISPS Handa Senior Open and the Staysure Senior PGA Championship on the Legends Tour, culminating in what is set to be a simply outstanding showing of golf in Europe. The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal de Algarve have joined forces to bring this event to European shores, with the group announcing a five-year strategic partnership to host Tour Champions events in Portugal. 'We are thrilled to partner with Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, Turismo de Algarve and Ernie Els to announce this exciting, first-of-its-kind PGA TOUR Champions event in Portugal,' PGA TOUR Champions President, Miller Brady, said. 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Portugal is one of the greatest places to play golf in Europe, but at present, only the Hotel Planner Tour will visit the European country in 2025, for the Open de Portugal at the Royal Obidos Spa and Golf Resort, in Vau Obidos. Els, who won The Open in 1994 and 1997 and the US Open in 2002 and 2012, is currently leading some exciting and innovative renovation works on the course, which was formerly known as the Victoria Course. This illustrious track had previously hosted the Portugal Masters between 2007 and 2022. Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Shane Lowry have won at this venue in the past. The South African, who has led renovation works at some of the world's most iconic golf courses, including Wentworth's West Course, spoke of his excitement over the renovations, with the Els Club in Vilamoura set to open in 2025. 'Whenever our firm designs a golf course, we always have an eye on what makes it a successful tournament venue, so this was always a big part of our plans for The Els Club Vilamoura,' Els said, speaking on the huge announcement. 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here. 'Working with Arrow Global and everyone at Vilamoura has been an absolute pleasure these past few years; they had a clear vision and mission from the get-go, which allowed us to focus our efforts on creating the very best golf course that we could. We're very proud of this course; it looks incredible. 'There are a lot of great holes, a lot of memorable holes, and overall, it's a really well-balanced test of golf. The practice facilities here are world-class, too. Everything about The Els Club Vilamoura makes it the ideal tournament venue. The players are going to love it, not just the golf course but this whole destination. It's such a beautiful part of the world.' The Algarve is one of the most famous destinations in the world for golf, with approximately 1.5billion rounds played annually. And according to John Calvao, Fund Principal at Arrow Global Group, the addition of the Portugal Invitational to the PGA Tour Champions Schedule signifies a huge leap in bringing some of the greatest players of the game to Portugal's shores. 'This announcement signifies the convergence of several heavyweights in the game of golf; the renowned golf destination of the Algarve, the might of Ernie Els' design, and the legendary golfers who will compete on these fairways,' Calvao said. 'For Arrow Global, this is a major step in realizing our vision for Portugal as one of the best global golf and lifestyle destinations, and we believe this tournament will showcase the world-class quality of the course and the strength of our long-term commitment to the region.' Aside from upgrades to the golf course, Arrow Global Group are investing in Vilamoura as a region, adding multiple hotels while also announcing their intention to build a beach club. 'We've made a significant investment in the destination, elevating it with world-class hotels, a completely renovated marina, upgraded golf courses, and a high-end equestrian center. We're also further developing high-quality real estate that reflects the lifestyle our guests and residents seek. Soon, we'll be adding a country club and a beach club, making this a destination that truly has everything for families and all generations to enjoy.' Andre Gomes, President of the Algarve Tourism Board noted the significance of this announcement. 'Hosting the Portugal Invitational in Vilamoura is a historic milestone for the Algarve and for Portugal. This partnership with PGA TOUR Champions further raises our destination's international profile and confirms the Algarve as an essential reference point in European golf,' Gomes said. 'The Els Club Vilamoura, now the venue for an event of this magnitude, reflects our commitment to combining quality, sustainability and reputation with a distinctive tourist offering capable of attracting elite competitions. 'The Algarve has been Portugal's leading golf destination for decades, with around 1.5 million rounds played annually, and continues to invest in a diverse, contemporary and environmentally responsible offering. This tournament raises the bar and reflects the regional ambition to establish the Algarve as a year-round tourist destination, with a direct impact on the economy, employment and promotion of the region. We are ready to welcome the big names in golf history and show the world everything the Algarve has to offer — on and off the course.'
Miami Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Russia-Linked Tankers Keep Exploding
An explosion on a tanker at a port in Russia is the latest unexplained incident to happen on a vessel linked to the country, which has raised speculation over sabotage. Russia's transportation ministry said Sunday it was investigating the blast on the Eco Wizard tanker at the Ust-Luga port near St. Petersburg, which had caused an ammonia leak on board. Last week, a blast caused flooding in the engine room of the Greek-owned Vilamoura off the coast of Libya. Ukraine said that the ship was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to evade oil sanctions. Four other mysterious limpet mine attacks hit vessels that had called at Russian ports this year. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but media outlets have noted how Kyiv's security forces often conduct covert action against Russian interests. Olha Polishchuk from the analysis firm ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) told Newsweek on Monday that regarding the latest incident, "it is not unreasonable to suggest Ukraine's involvement." Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for comment. The blasts on oil tankers linked to Russia have shaken the shipping world and prompted speculation that they were part of a state-backed sabotage campaign. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, and there could be other causes, but Kyiv's drone strikes on Russian targets coincide with a fight against vessels that evade oil sanctions aimed at choking off funding for Moscow's military machine. Russian authorities reported an explosion on the Eco Wizard tanker at the strategically important Ust-Luga port in northwestern Russia's Leningrad region, located on the Gulf of Finland. No casualties were reported. The blast caused "a minor leak of liquid ammonia" on board the vessel whose 23-person crew was evacuated, according to Russian Telegram news channel Baza, which said there was "an explosion of an unknown nature." Eco Wizard was built in 2024 to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands and is suspected to belong to Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet, according to the Kyiv Independent. The vessel had arrived from Antwerp, Belgium, on July 3, according to ship-tracking data from VesselFinder. Polishchuk said that ACLED monitors Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia's territory and had previously recorded explosions where Kyiv's involvement was either confirmed or highly suspected. Ukraine has also frequently targeted oil and gas-related facilities in the past, particularly those facilitating export, Polishchuk told Newsweek. "Taking into consideration the reach of the previous attacks, the location of the current attack, and the nature of the target, it is not unreasonable to suggest Ukraine's involvement, though there are other possible causes." The vessel Eco Wizard is the latest Russian-linked tanker to have suffered an explosion since the start of this year. Last week, there was a blast on the Vilamoura shortly after it visited Ust-Luga in early April, where it loaded Kazakh-origin barrels and had called in at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk in May. This is a pattern that correlates with at least four other tanker explosions since January, three of which happened in the Mediterranean, according to analysis by Lloyd's List, which was shared with Newsweek. However, the common link to previous Russia oil terminal visits may not be sufficient to establish a connection between all recent explosions without clear evidence, Lloyd's List said. All five tankers had passed through Malta's outer port limits, but links to Libya were also the common denominator in at least two explosions, it added. Four of the vessels belonged to Greek and Cypriot shipowners, according to the Financial Times. The Vilamoura is part of the Cardiff Group of George Economou. The Seacharm, hit in January off Turkey, and the Seajewel, hit in February in Italy, belong to Thenamaris, which Nikolas Martinos controls. The Grace Ferrum, damaged off Libya in February, belongs to the Cypriot firm Cymare. Another vessel, the Koala, was damaged in an explosion at Ust-Luga Port in February and had been sanctioned by the European Union in May for transporting Russian oil. Olha Polishchuk, Eastern Europe Research Manager at ACLED, told Newsweek: "Previous attacks have also shown vulnerabilities in Russia's defense of not only its oil and gas industry, but also high-value military targets-vulnerabilities that Ukraine will continue to prod and exploit." Lloyd's List on June 30: "A common link to previous Russia oil terminal visits may not be sufficient to link all recent explosions without clear evidence." The latest incident will be investigated by Russian authorities. Security analysts assume that such explosions are related to the vessel's recent loading at Russian oil export facilities; however, Lloyd's List said that there is no hard evidence to support these theories, making vessel risk assessments difficult for shipowners and operators. Related Articles Iran Gets Significant Diplomatic BoostPutin Minister Found Dead After Ukraine FailuresRussia Appears To Be Hiding Its Death FiguresLavrov Lists Russia Demands for Ukraine Peace 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia-Linked Tankers Keep Exploding
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An explosion on a tanker at a port in Russia is the latest unexplained incident to happen on a vessel linked to the country, which has raised speculation over sabotage. Russia's transportation ministry said Sunday it was investigating the blast on the Eco Wizard tanker at the Ust-Luga port near St. Petersburg, which had caused an ammonia leak on board. Last week, a blast caused flooding in the engine room of the Greek-owned Vilamoura off the coast of Libya. Ukraine said that the ship was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to evade oil sanctions. Four other mysterious limpet mine attacks hit vessels that had called at Russian ports this year. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, but media outlets have noted how Kyiv's security forces often conduct covert action against Russian interests. Olha Polishchuk from the analysis firm ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data) told Newsweek on Monday that regarding the latest incident, "it is not unreasonable to suggest Ukraine's involvement." Newsweek reached out to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for comment. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Why It Matters The blasts on oil tankers linked to Russia have shaken the shipping world and prompted speculation that they were part of a state-backed sabotage campaign. Ukraine has not claimed responsibility, and there could be other causes, but Kyiv's drone strikes on Russian targets coincide with a fight against vessels that evade oil sanctions aimed at choking off funding for Moscow's military machine. What To Know Russian authorities reported an explosion on the Eco Wizard tanker at the strategically important Ust-Luga port in northwestern Russia's Leningrad region, located on the Gulf of Finland. No casualties were reported. The blast caused "a minor leak of liquid ammonia" on board the vessel whose 23-person crew was evacuated, according to Russian Telegram news channel Baza, which said there was "an explosion of an unknown nature." Eco Wizard was built in 2024 to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands and is suspected to belong to Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet, according to the Kyiv Independent. The vessel had arrived from Antwerp, Belgium, on July 3, according to ship-tracking data from VesselFinder. Polishchuk said that ACLED monitors Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia's territory and had previously recorded explosions where Kyiv's involvement was either confirmed or highly suspected. Ukraine has also frequently targeted oil and gas-related facilities in the past, particularly those facilitating export, Polishchuk told Newsweek. "Taking into consideration the reach of the previous attacks, the location of the current attack, and the nature of the target, it is not unreasonable to suggest Ukraine's involvement, though there are other possible causes." The vessel Eco Wizard is the latest Russian-linked tanker to have suffered an explosion since the start of this year. Last week, there was a blast on the Vilamoura shortly after it visited Ust-Luga in early April, where it loaded Kazakh-origin barrels and had called in at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk in May. This is a pattern that correlates with at least four other tanker explosions since January, three of which happened in the Mediterranean, according to analysis by Lloyd's List, which was shared with Newsweek. However, the common link to previous Russia oil terminal visits may not be sufficient to establish a connection between all recent explosions without clear evidence, Lloyd's List said. All five tankers had passed through Malta's outer port limits, but links to Libya were also the common denominator in at least two explosions, it added. Four of the vessels belonged to Greek and Cypriot shipowners, according to the Financial Times. The Vilamoura is part of the Cardiff Group of George Economou. The Seacharm, hit in January off Turkey, and the Seajewel, hit in February in Italy, belong to Thenamaris, which Nikolas Martinos controls. The Grace Ferrum, damaged off Libya in February, belongs to the Cypriot firm Cymare. Another vessel, the Koala, was damaged in an explosion at Ust-Luga Port in February and had been sanctioned by the European Union in May for transporting Russian oil. The oil tanker Eagle S, part of Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet, seen at the Port of Kilpilahti in Porvoo, Finland, on January 7, 2025. The oil tanker Eagle S, part of Russia's sanctions-busting shadow fleet, seen at the Port of Kilpilahti in Porvoo, Finland, on January 7, 2025. ANTTI AIMO-KOIVISTO/Getty Images What People Are Saying Olha Polishchuk, Eastern Europe Research Manager at ACLED, told Newsweek: "Previous attacks have also shown vulnerabilities in Russia's defense of not only its oil and gas industry, but also high-value military targets—vulnerabilities that Ukraine will continue to prod and exploit." Lloyd's List on June 30: "A common link to previous Russia oil terminal visits may not be sufficient to link all recent explosions without clear evidence." What Happens Next The latest incident will be investigated by Russian authorities. Security analysts assume that such explosions are related to the vessel's recent loading at Russian oil export facilities; however, Lloyd's List said that there is no hard evidence to support these theories, making vessel risk assessments difficult for shipowners and operators.
Libya Observer
08-07-2025
- Libya Observer
Operator of oil tanker 'Vilamoura' reveals cause of mysterious explosion off Libyan coast
Greek shipping company TMS Tankers has revealed that an explosive device was behind the blast that struck the oil tanker Vilamoura just hours after it departed from Libya's Zueitina port last week. The Vilamoura left the Libyan port of Zueitina on June 27, en route to the Strait of Gibraltar carrying 1 million barrels of crude oil, when it was hit by a mysterious explosion on board that caused large volumes of water to flood the engine room. Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported on Monday that TMS Tankers said preliminary investigation results clearly indicated the explosion—and the resulting cracks in the side shell plating and flooding of the engine room—were caused by an external source: an unidentified explosive device. The company noted that the tanker lost its ability to maneuver after the explosion and the flooding of the engine room, but was towed to Greece for damage assessment. The Vilamoura has since safely arrived at Greece's Laconikos Gulf. Maritime security sources told Reuters last week that a limpet mine may have been the cause of the explosion aboard the Vilamoura. Tags: Oil Tanker
Zawya
07-07-2025
- Zawya
Explosive device likely damaged Greek tanker off Libya last week, operator says
ATHENS: An external explosive device most likely caused the blast that damaged Greek oil tanker Vilamoura as it was sailing off the Libyan coast last week, the vessel's Greece-based operator TMS Tankers said on Sunday, citing an initial investigation. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Vilamoura had left the Libyan port of Zuetina on June 27 to head to Gibraltar with some 1 million barrels of oil when there was an explosion in the engine room. "Preliminary investigation findings clearly indicate that the explosion, the resulting fracture of the side shell plating, and the flooding of the engine room were caused by an external source —an unidentified explosive device," TMS Tankers said. Maritime security sources told Reuters last week that a limpet mine may have caused the blast on Vilamoura, the fifth such incident to hit commercial shipping in the region in recent months. Following the explosion and the flooding of its engine room the vessel lost manoeuvrability, although it was able to be towed towards Greece. The vessel has now arrived safely at Laconikos Bay in Greece and its crew are in good health, the operator added in a statement. (Reporting by Renee Maltezou Editing by Gareth Jones)
