Tomás Gouveia is looking to lean on fond memories of Royal Óbidos when he tees it up on home soil at the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos this week.
The Portuguese impressed at the event 12 months ago, posting a tenth-place finish after ending the week with a four-round total of seven under par.
Now, back at a venue which has been an ever-present on the Road to Mallorca for the past five years, Gouveia is hoping to go one better.
“It’s always nice to play at home and this is a very special tournament,” he said. “I am always excited to play here and last year I had a great result, and I hope to do better this year.
“It’s an amazing place and I think we all enjoy coming here; it’s different to what we usually play.
“It’s a really special place and I am sad that the tournament is moving elsewhere but I just feel honoured to have played here the last couple of years.”
Since 2021, the Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos has been sole-sanctioned on the HotelPlanner Tour, providing opportunities for some of the country’s best talent.
Gouveia, who tasted victory in the PT Tour’s Palmares Open II in January this year, believes this week’s event is important for Portuguese golfers trying to break into the higher echelons of the sport.
“It’s crucial for everyone that wants to compete at this level or higher, to have this opportunity and get to know the level,” he added.
“If you want a lot of tour professionals from any country, you need to have one of these events to give opportunities to our players.”
The 31-year-old, who sits 98th in the season-long Road to Mallorca Rankings, is also in need of a strong week if he’s to extend his season beyond the Italian Challenge Open.
The top 68 after next week’s event at Golf Nazionale will all book their sports at the Hainan Open and Hangzhou Open in October, and Gouveia is eager to make sure he’s part of the conversation.
“I can’t lie, I feel a bit of pressure,” he said.
“I know I must show up and get some good results to get into China. I have lots to gain. I am going to be confident and positive and to try and get a result that I believe I can.
“This event gives me a lot of good vibes, and it would be the perfect event to have a great result and climb up the Rankings.”
Gouveia is part of a strong field at Royal Óbidos which includes Road to Mallorca Number One David Law, two-time DP World Tour winner Eddie Pepperell and the HotelPlanner Tour’s most recent winner, Hugo Townsend.
The Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos takes place from September 11-14.
