Faro golfer Ricardo Santos became the first Portuguese player to win a PGA European Tour event on home soil last Sunday.
The 29-year-old Oceânico club pro, who is obviously enjoying his rookie season in the sport’s highest tier, stormed to victory following a stunning four-day display at the 20th Madeira Islands Open.
The younger of the two Santos siblings – brother Hugo failed to make the cut- opened up with an excellent four-under-par 68 on Thursday and moved into joint sixth behind half-way leader Oliver Wilson with a subsequent 67 by the end of Friday’s procedings.
A further 68 on Saturday saw the Algarvean rise into third before treating both the Clube de Golfe do Santo da Serra course and four-stroke runner-up Magnus Carlsson with equal disdain by carding a record-breaking closing round of 63 on Sunday to claim the €112,500 first prize.
“To win my first European Tour tournament at home is very special”, Santos said afterwards. “I can’t describe how I feel.”
The biggest purse of his career to date apart, the victory also lifts Santos into 50th place in the Race to Dubai, opening the door to potentially far greater fame and riches.
