CARMONA, Cavite — For a pro golfer, nothing beats the feeling of hoisting his country’s National Open against an international field in front of kababayans and loved ones.
This essentially will serve as the driving force for 39 Filipino bets as they vie for honors in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open — newly revived and reintegrated into the Asian Tour — for the next four days at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.
“It’s nice to have the Asian Tour here this week, it’s nice to be playing at home. Hopefully we can keep the Philippine Open with Filipino hands,” Pinoy star Miguel Tabuena said on the eve of the $500,000 event, which marks the Open’s first staging since 2019 as well as its return to the Tour after a decade-long absence.
Mr. Tabuena is gunning for a third crown after prior triumphs in 2015 — the last time the tourney was played as part of the Continental circuit — and 2018.
“Like any other event that I play, I want to win and hopefully, I can win for the third time,” he said.
The 30-year-old leads the local charge that includes former winners Angelo Que (2008) and Gerald Rosales (2000), Justin de los Santos, Tony Lascuña and top female amateur Rianne Malixi against crack foreign bets headlined by former champion Steve Lewton, LIV Golf star Chase Koepka and Tour Order of Merit champions Sihwan Kim, Jazz Janewattananond and Liang Wenchong.
“I’m going against guys who are half my age so I’m going to take it easy,” said 46-year-old Mr. Que ahead of his “homecoming.”
“It’s a plus that we’re playing here in Manila Southwoods, my home course. I’ve been here for 26 years. I’m here everyday. Pressure (of being one of the Filipino stalwarts) is there but I won’t think too much about it.”
With the hazard-laden 7,138-yard Masters course reimagined into a challenging par-70 layout, precision and composure would be key.
“It’s much tougher,” Mr. Tabuena said of the Jack Nicklaus-designed course.
“Some of the players who aren’t long off the tee will have trouble especially with the rough being this long. But I believe there’s still some local knowledge out there to be used and I have some of that for sure.”
Mr. Que shared this sentiment.
“I think off the tee, you need to find the fairways because the rough’s a bit thick, eh. So if you can find the fairways more, then you have better chances of going for the pin,” he noted.
“And with wind blowing now like this (mid-day), it’s going to be challenging for everybody.” — Olmin Leyba