By Hugo Ribeiro

Some of the DP World Tour’s brightest young talents will tee it up next week at the Portugal Masters as the popular event returns to Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course from October 27-30. Last year’s runner-up Nicolai Højgaard will be joined by his twin brother Rasmus as the pair seek a sixth DP World Tour title between them. Rasmus has three titles to his name, but Nicolai is the most recent winner of the two with his victory at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship earlier this year, his second professional victory.

Nicolai carded a fine seven under par final round of 64 last year as he finished on 17 under par, but had to settle for a share of second place as Belgium’s Thomas Pieters birdied the final two holes to claim a two-stroke victory.

“I’m looking forward to returning to Portugal next week,” said the 21-year-old. “I have good memories from last year’s tournament and although I was disappointed at the time to finish second, I took a lot of positives from how I played in that final round. I can’t wait to get back and I would love to go one step further this year.”

Also joining them in Vilamoura will be Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who won his second DP World Tour title last month at the DS Automobiles Italian Open – held at the host venue of next year’s Ryder Cup and Frenchman Victor Perez, who won the Dutch Open in May.

As it stands in the early stages of qualification for Europe’s Ryder Cup side, MacIntyre would be an automatic qualifier for Luke Donald’s team next year following his victory in Rome and top ten finish at the Cazoo Open de France.

The quartet will join defending champion Thomas Pieters in the 120-man field on the Arnold Palmer-designed Dom Pedro Victoria Course and tickets are on sale with single day tickets priced at €20 for adults and €10 for youths. Children aged 12 or under can accompany a paying adult for free.