Miñoza, who had once made it a point to make himself available during the Open week, has booked himself to play in the $1 million Japan Golf Tour Championship IIyama Cup slated in the same week as the RP Open, which fires off June 28 at the fabled Wack Wack’s east course.
This marks the second straight time Miñoza will not be around to lead the locals’ charge against a crack foreign field in the country’s most prestigious golfing event after a similar commitment to play in the Japan PGA Tour forced him to skip last year’s event won by Gerald Rosales at The Riviera.
It was also at The Riviera where Miñoza scored a breakthrough win in the RP Open in 1998, finally bagging the elusive crown he had chased for 16 long years.
But sources said Miñoza had actually looked forward to playing in this year’s RP Open but the uncertainty of the staging of the event, which was postponed at least three times, forced him to decide to skip the event altogether in consideration with his schedule in the Japan PGA Tour, his base in the last 13 years.
In fact, he had not seen action in the Japan circuit since he won P9 million for topping the Fujisankei Classic in Shizuoka and after tying for 44th place in the Munsingwear Open KSB Cup last month.
Miñoza was reported to have spent the past month with his family in Bukidnon, but the ace Filipino shotmaker is now back in Japan and is registered in the Mizuno Open which begins today.
Meanwhile, the registry for the 86th RP Open closed yesterday with a full complement of 150 players from 18 countries confirmed to vie for a huge total prize money of about P9.5 million.
Making up the bulk of 84 foreign entries is Japan with 22 while Australia will be represented by a contingent of 15 players. Taiwan and the United States are sending 10 and six entries, respectively.
The breakdown of the foreign aces coming are as follows: Korea (6), Guam (5), Singapore (3), Hong Kong (3), India (3), South Africa (2), Scotland (2), Myanmar (2), Venezuela (1), Sweden (1), Thailand (1), Ecuador (1) and Malaysia (1).
The Philippine roster includes 46 professionals, led by defending champion Gerald Rosales and 18 amateurs, headed by reigning national titlist Angelo Que.
"It is more than satisfying to note that such a big number of foreigners have accepted our invitations for them to play in the Open," said Rod Feliciano, president of the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.
"While there may have been some unfortunate incidents of late that affected the country’s image abroad, the arrival of this big number of our foreign friends should give all of us a reason to ensure the success of big international events like the Open."
Already assured of the support of Casino Filipino and San Miguel Beer as co-presenters, the sponsorship package for the Open’s return to its old home received a major boost with the support of The Herma Group and Hope Luxury Cigarettes.
Mitsubishi Motors is another chief backer of the Open as its support also includes the hole-in-one package for both the pro-am on Wednesday, June 27 and the tournament proper from June 28 to July 1.
The other sponsors are Hanjin Shipping, Prudentialife Pension Plan, Bingo Bonanza, General Milling, Cinnabon, Pyramid Construction, Philtec Label, Citra Tollways, Electrobus Consolidated, Executive Golfers Club, Unilever, The Riviera Golf and Country Club, Philippine Navy, Wallem Shipping, Marsman Drysdale, Rudy Project, GG&A Club Shares, Mizuno, Solahart, Citgo, U-Bix, Nextel, Caffe Appassionato, PLDT, Aristocrat Lamps, First Georgetown Ventures and Greens Management.
Among the foreign stars who have signed up are former champion Anthony Kang of Korea, Nico Van Rensburg of South Africa, Arjun Atwal of India, Simon Yates of Scotland and American Aaron Meeks.