Volvo Ocean Race

Old rivals Ken Read and Ian Walker took their duel off the water and on to Portugal’s golf greens this week, trading blows between bunkers and roughs in the inaugural Lisbon Open 70 Masters.

PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race PAUL TODD/Volvo Ocean Race

It is the first time the pair have gone head to head on a golf course since playing in Alicante, Spain, before the race started in October, despite promising to play at every stopover.

Once the handicaps were controversially set the skippers kicked off their round and a rare chance for a bit of down-time as the race intensifies with just two legs and three in-port races remaining.

Abu Dhabi skipper Walker was hopeful of continuing his winning form at the Oitavos Dunes Golf Course in Cascais, having won the Leg 7 race from Miami to Lisbon, but PUMA Ocean Racing's Read had other ideas.

“Just because he had a really good leg this last leg doesn’t mean he's king out here, he has to actually work at it again,’’ Read said.

Walker knew he had his work cut out for him, admitting that his swing left a lot to be desired, especially compared Read’s.

“I have a bit of a problem, you see my golf is terrible and I don’t take it seriously," he said. "Kenny’s golf is reasonable and he takes it incredibly seriously.’’

Just who won depends on who you ask, with the pair pulling the pin on the eleventh hole, but the rivalry is set to continue when the pair hit the water on June 9 for the Lisbon In-Port Race.