The Oceânico Golfers
DARREN CLARKE • Born in N. Ireland in 1968 and turned pro in 1990 when he played off plus 4 handicap. As pro, won two tournaments in Ireland, and 14 on European, US and Japanese Tours, the biggest being World Golf Championships – the 2000 Andersen Consulting Match Play and the 2003 NEC Invitational. Stalwart member of several Ryder Cup teams. Ranked 2nd on European Order of Merit in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
GARY MURPHY • After alternating between the Challenge and main PGA European Tour from 1997 to 2002, 34-year-old Gary from Kilkenny, Ireland, has retained his card since 2003. Also sponsored by Oceânico, he is winless in pro events so far, but has earned about €1.4 million on the main Tour from 2003 to August, 2007, thanks to steady golf, including seven top-10 finishes.
JOSÉ DIAS • Who represents Portugal, had the distinction of being Oceânico’s Head Pro long before the Group had even a single golf course, helping with our clients at his home club Palmares and conducting our golf clinics. Now, Jo Dias has become an Oceânico Professional based at our Oceânico Victoria Clube de Golfe and also plays the National PGA Tour as an Oceânico player. He holds the record for the lowest score (63) at Palmares and shares the Estela Club’s course record of 65, scored most birdies in a round (9), most birdies in a row (6), and in the last six years has achieved no less than four holes-in-one.
The Oceânico Golf Team
OCEÂNICO GOLF TEAM • Oceânico are also working actively nearer home to improve the future standards of Portuguese golf.
They have sponsored the Portuguese PGA over the last two years, and the Group has also “embraced” a new project proposed by the National PGA, called the OCEÂNICO GOLF TEAM PORTUGAL.
TEAM PORTUGAL is made up of three of the top young professionals in the country---RICARDO SANTOS, TIAGO CRUZ and HUGO SANTOS.
The idea is to support these young players by creating around them a professional team supplying them with teaching and physical and fitness preparation.
It also provides them with a competitive annual schedule between the PGA Portugal National Tour, EuroPro Tour, Challenge Tour and European Tour circuits.
The Property Owners
PADRAIG HARRINGTON • Were it not for his exciting Open victory and first Major success at Cornoustie this year, this Irish star and 2006 European Order of Merit winner would certainly have played in this year´s Portugal Masters, but in a case of noblesse oblige he was committed to play in the 2007 Grand Slam in Bermuda being held over the two days immediately before the Vilamoura event. The Grand Slam is an exclusive 36-hole tournament for the year´s four Major winners, although Jim Furyk was given the place of Tiger who elected not to play. Sincere congratulations are therefore due to Padraig, owner of a Prestige villa at the Amendoeira Golf Resort, for his highly successful year with that Major victory and his leading position in the 2007 European Order of Merit.
LEE WESTWOOD • A native of Worksop, England, 34-year-old Lee joined the pro ranks in 1993 via Qualifying School. Has 17 PGA European Tour wins and another 8 worldwide. His best year on the European Tour was 2000 with 6 victories and won the Order of Merit. A Ryder Cup regular, he was unbeaten in all his matches in 2004 and 2006.
DAVID HOWELL • Born in Swindon, England, in 1975 and at the age of 20 turned pro when he was playing off 3. His 1st pro win – by 7 strokes - was at the '98 Australian PGA before winning four times on the European Tour, including the prestigious BMW Intl. in 2005 and the HSBC Champions Tournament and BMW Championship in 2006. Played in the 2004 and 2006 Ryder Cup teams.
PAUL MCGINLEY • Having played on the European Tour since 1992, the 40-year-old Dubliner had his best year in 2005 when he claimed third spot in the Order of Merit after winning the Volvo Masters, his 4th victory on the Tour. Also won the Irish PGA Championship four times, and has played several tournaments in the USA. Played in 3 successive winning Ryder Cup teams (2002-06).
BRADLEY DREDGE • Born in 1973 in Tredegar, Wales, and turned pro at the age of 23. Played on the Challenge Tour in 1997 and 1999, and won two events, but regained his main Tour Card as from 2000. Won the 2003 Madeira Open and in 2005 partnered Stephen Dodd to win the rain-shortened WGC Algarve World Cup at the Victoria Course. In 2006 he triumphed at the Omega European Masters.
RETIEF GOOSEN • This 2-time US Open Champion (2001 and 2004) needs little introduction. Born in South Africa in 1969, Retief now lives in England and plays mostly on the US Tour, although is a true
globe-trotter. He started playing aged 11 and turned pro in his 21st year, after having recovered from health problems due to a lightning strike. Has won 14 times on the European Tour and won its Order of Merit in 2001 and 2002.
PAUL BROADHURST • Now aged 42, Paul, who hails from Walsall, has enjoyed considerable success in Portugal, being one of the few to have won back-to-back Portuguese Open titles (in 2005 at Oitavos in Cascais and then Penina last year). Several months after turning pro, he won the ´89 Cannes Open, and since then 5 other tournaments in Europe. Injured his right hand seriously in 2000 but bounced back to glory after 2002.
Three other Ryder Cup heroes are also strongly linked to the Oceânico Group, with current captain Nick Faldo, former captain Seve Ballesteros and Ireland’s Christy O’Connor Jnr all designing world-class championship golf courses for us.
In addition the Group is now the official partner for the Seve Trophy.
In June, at the Taste of Dublin exhibition, Oceânico was proud to announce its new sponsorship of this year’s event, named after Ballesteros, the five-times Ryder Cup winner.The competition will be held at The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Killenard, Coujnty Laois, Ireland in September, and again in 2009.
It seems teams of 10 players representing Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland competing over four days in a series of fourballs, greensomes, foursomes and singles matches.