Ernie Els hosts Portugal Invitational on Champions Tour...Live scoreboard

  PGA Tour Champions : Portugal Invitational  Leaderboard

Zach Johnson, a rookie at 50, has flown from the British Senior Open at Gleneagles in Scotland to the Els Club in Vilamoura, Portugal for the inaugural Portugal Invitational, and has fired an opening - 64 for a one shot lead.

Ernie Els has redesigned an old Arnold Palmer design, Dom Pedro Victoria GC, and after a lifetime of holidaying and playing in the Algarve, he told the media " I'm very excited, very thankful, it's taken a long time but the Champions Tour is finally in Portugal!"

Zach Johnson tees off on the first hole during the opening round of the Portugal Invitational at The Els Club Vilamoura - Photo: Nuno Fortinho Mendes and João Costa Ferreira / Freak

Johnson is vying to become the first Senior Tour player to win 4 tournaments in his rookie season since Padraig Harrington in 2022.

Rory Sabbatini is 2nd 65 -7.

Harrington 66 and Cink 67 are both in contention again as play begins today (Saturday) with a strong supporting cast who have made the trip to support the new endeavour, and Ernie.

Canadian

Stephen Ames T34 -3 69

Bryan Angus