Player Profile: Ricardo Santos

On Sunday Ricardo Santos won his first-ever event on the European Tour when he was victorious at the Madeira Islands Open. This week's player profile introduces golf fans to this talented golfer who is making strides in European golf.

Born in 1982 in Faro, Portugal, Santos developed his interest in golf from a young age. By the time the young Santos was in high school, he had decided to pursue a career in professional golf, a goal which required tremendous effort and discipline from the eager teenage golfer.

In 2006, Santos had enjoyed enough success on the amateur circuit to consider turning professional. When he made his debut on the second-tier Challenge Tour in 2007, Santos saw his game improving immensely in response to the challenges that he would face playing professional golf. Known for his happy-go-lucky style and precision, Santos weathered his first two years on the Challenge Tour with ease, coming 50th on the money list at the end of 2008.

By the time 2010 came around, Santos had polished his game and was a keen contender for titles on the Challenge Tour. He made nine out of ten cuts at the beginning of the season, and carded seven top-15 finishes – a taste of things to come for the talented young player. When he won The Princess championship, Santos ended the 2011 season ranked number one on the Challenge Tour with an invitation to join the European Tour in 2012.

The 2012 season saw Santos in full professional bloom as he recorded excellent finishes in the first few months of the year. On Sunday, the young champion beat Magnus Carlsson to win the Madeira Islands Open – the first Portuguese-born golfer to ever do so. Golf fans can expect many more victories from this talented player as he rises in the ranks of the European Tour.

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