The 24 year old has added a second career Challenge Tour title to his repertoire this year while his remarkably consistent form – just one missed cut in 18 appearances – has elevated him to within the top 120 in the Official World Golf Ranking, making him the highest-ranked Portuguese player in history.


Gouveia sits atop the Road to Oman Rankings but, with the season finale teeing off tomorrow (Wednesday) – where the top 15 in the Road to Oman at the conclusion of the event will earn European Tour graduation – there are still three others determined to leap-frog the Lisbon-born player.


Sebastien Gros is Gouveia’s main challenger to the top spot and the two friends have been enjoying a friendly rivalry which has buoyed both players to incredible golf as the season comes to a close.


“It’s great to have this rivalry on the course but off the course we are really good friends and at the end of the day, that’s all that matters,” said Gouveia, whose win this season came at the AEGEAN Airlines Challenge Tour by Hartl Resort. “It’s about being here now and trying to win the Road to Oman Rankings.


“You play golf until you’re really old but these moments are the kind of ones you want to remember at the end of your career, and when you have such good friends out here it’s great. I think both of us are pushing each other to another level, which is great.


“It has been a great year for me. Consistency was really key for me this year, even when I haven’t played my best I still scored well, which was probably the biggest difference.


“I’m just really looking forward to next season, to play on The European Tour and play with the top guys in Europe. I think it’s going to be exciting times.”


Gros, who is €3,980 behind Gouveia in the Rankings, also believes their tête-à-tête at the summit has pushed him on to great things this season, but is now just focusing on winning the Grand Final.


“I’m determined this week because I have won twice and I’d like to add a third win to my season,” said the Frenchman, who turns 26 this coming Sunday.


“I think it’s something that means a lot to win three times – like Nacho Elvira did. It would give me the top spot but I’m here more just to play a tournament and not focusing on the top of the Rankings.


“I’m definitely going to The European Tour at a different level than I might have been if I made it through Qualifying School last year. This year has given me a lot of confidence and I think I am a lot more prepared for it next season.


“Everything is perfect here, the design of the golf course is really awesome. We knew that the greenkeeping team had problems with a lack of water in the last week but you cannot see that on the golf course, so that really says something – they’ve done a great job.


“It’s the best area to have this Grand Final, because we’ve got amazing weather for November, the course is in great shape and you need to be at the top of your game to beat the course and be in contention.”


The two other players in with a shot of winning the Road to Oman Rankings are Spaniard Borja Virto Astudillo and Sweden’s Björn Åkesson, in third and fourth place respectively.


Further down the Rankings, the Grand Final is set to provide myriad dramatic plots and subplots with just under €15,000 separating tenth position and 20th – the difference between a third placed finish this week and tenth is €15,000 – and everybody in the field still in with a chance of jumping inside the crucial top 15 and fulfilling their European Tour dreams.


John Hahn of the USA is the man who sits right on the bubble in 15th position, but Denmark’s Mads Søgaard is just €92 back in 16th place, emphasising the importance of this week’s season closer.


For Scotsman Peter Whiteford, who is the last man in the field in 45th position, a victory this week would be enough to earn a return to the top tier.