Philip Reid’s Portugal Masters lowdown

Purse: €1.5 million (€235,000 to the winner)

Where: Vilamoura, Portugal

The course: Dom Pedro Victoria – 7,191 yards, par 71 – was designed by Arnold Palmer on a layout dominated by water hazards with large bunker complexes also a feature. It has become the traditional home of the Portugal Masters (since first staging it in 2007) with a design feature that has integrated the many olive and almond trees on the course. Expect low scoring: it was here in 2018 that Oliver Fisher shot the first ever 59 on the European Tour.

The field: With players fighting to get into the top 50 on the Race to Dubai order or merit who progress to the DP World Tour Championship, and others fighting for their tour cards, there is a relatively strong field (albeit one unfortunately reduced to just 108 players due to the light available). Australia's Min Woo Lee is the best ranked player off the R2D standings (sixth) but the likes of Sam Horsfield (currently 53rd) and Alex Levy (56th) need to garner some points.

Quote-Unquote: "I'm feeling good, I come here full of confidence . . . there is no doubt playing [on the PGA Tour] makes you a better golfer, you have to play well to contend because the best player is going to win that week." – Matt Wallace aiming to bring his recent PGA Tour form back to the European Tour.

Irish in the field: Jonathan Caldwell is grouped with Jorge Campillo and Chris Wood (off the 10th at 7.20am); Pádraig Harrington is in a group with George Coetzee and Nicolai Hojgaard (off the 10th at 8.0am); Cormac Sharvin is grouped with Tomas Gouveia and Vitor Lopes (off the first at 8.30am).

Betting: Matt Wallace would appear to deserve favouritism (at 14-1) after recent strong outings on the PGA Tour (most notably tied-fourth in the Zozo) and looks the player to beat. Rasmus Hojgaard hasn't exactly fired on all cylinders of late but he knows how to win and looks decent each way value at 33-1.

On TV: Live on Sky Sports (live coverage from noon).