Portugal may not have a player in this year's Ryder Cup - but many of Europe's top golfers own property there. It's easy to see why, says Rupert Bates

Property and golf are joined at the hip, and Portugal is the golden belt holding up the market. Myth has it the Algarve was where the ancient gods came to rest from their labours - Zeus drinking nectar at the 19th hole; Aphrodite wrapped in seaweed at the spa.

Those in the Mark Twain camp who consider golf a good walk spoiled, look away now: the Ryder Cup, the biennial golfing battle between Europe and.......