Golf News: - Posted 24th February 1998

Record prize money for Volvo PGA Championship

Wentworth, Surrey - Record prize money of £1.2 million will be on offer at this year's Volvo PGA Championship at Wentworth.

Top prize for the tournament, which runs from 22nd - 25th May stands at a record £200,000.

Ken Schofield, executive director of the PGA European Tour, said: "This is another significant landmark in the history of the European Tour with a tour-organised event for the first time offering a top prize of £200,000."

Ian Woosnam is defending the title, which he won by two strokes from Darren Clarke, Ernie Els and Nick Faldo last year.

Next month's Portuguese Open has been switched from the Aroeira Club near Lisbon to the Algarve due to heavy rainfall around the capital.

The tournament will be played from 19th - 22nd March at Le Meridien Penina, which lasted hosted the event in 1982.

David Garland, the European Tour's director of operations, said: "During the past 90 days the rainfall in the Lisbon area has been three times the norm at this time of year with only 12 days totally rain-free.

"As a result officials at the Aroeira Golf Club feel that they cannot guarantee that the playing condition at the course will be the same high level as experienced in 1997."

The Aroeira Club has hosted the past two Portuguese Opens.

1998 Press Association