Tee for top shot

One shot could bring some lucky European tour golfer a diamond tee worth 500,000 Euros in the final round of the Algarve Portuguese Open at Vale do Lobo on Sunday.

One shot could bring some lucky European tour golfer a diamond tee worth €500,000 in the final round of the Algarve Portuguese Open at Vale do Lobo on Sunday.

The tee, measuring 55 millimetres and weighing 200 grams, is on offer for the first hole-in-one on the clifftop 234-yard 11th.

The value is well over twice the first prize in the tournament – but anybody tempted to steal it should be warned that it is being guarded by a robot dog called “Lobo” who is wearing it on its collar.

An alarm goes off if it is moved and it is also fitted with a tracking system should it be snatched.

Last year the tee was guarded in a cage by a live rattlesnake and went unclaimed because the event was cut to only two rounds because of high winds and rain.

Something else was offered on the 11th tee in today’s pro-am – a selection of gourmet dishes prepared by Dutch television chef Angelique Schmeinck.