Victoria Clube de Golfe, near Vilamoura in southern Portugal, was designed by Palmer back in 2004, and has hosted the Portugal Masters each year since the inaugural edition in 2007.

On Tuesday evening, the tournament paid tribute to the seven-time Major winner as players, officials and media gathered to watch a video of the great man and read a letter he wrote to the club just three weeks before he passed away.

Knowing the tournament was approaching its tenth anniversary, Mr Palmer wrote the letter below, congratulating the venue and talking of his pleasure at how well the course had been received.


The letter has been framed and will be displayed inside the clubhouse.

“The world of golf is mourning the loss of a great champion and a great ambassador of our sport,” said Portugal Masters Tournament Director Peter Adams. “We are privileged and humbled that Mr Palmer took the time to write a letter of congratulations on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Portugal Masters.”

The Arnold Palmer Design Company has created over 300 golf courses across the world, but Victoria Clube de Golfe remains the only one in Portugal.