The legend lives again

Back with a vengeance.

Frankie Miñoza celebrated his return to the Philippine Open in triumphant fashion, outsteadying China’s No. 1 Liang Wen-chong in a shootout then thwarting the late-charging Gerald Rosales with a closing one-under par 71 for a two-shot victory at Wack Wack’s east course yesterday.

Miñoza, who also led in the third round to capture the RP Open for the first time in 1998 at Riviera, came away with delicate back-to-back birdies from No. 13 that broke the back of Liang, who drew level with Miñoza with a par on the first hole but fell by as many as three strokes before moving to within one again with a birdie on No. 12.

But Miñoza’s late birdies stopped the Chinese ace in his tracks as the Filipino shotmaker, who shot two 67s in the second and third rounds to wrest control, parred the last four holes, including the tough par-3 17th to complete a round of 36-35.

Miñoza, 47, finished with a 10-under 278 and won the top purse of $47,550 (around P2.3 million). He jumped to second in the Order of Merit with earnings of $55,250, just behind Liang with $64,940.

It was a sweet victory for Miñoza, who skipped the last three stagings of the country’s premier golf championship and Asia’s oldest, after withdrawing on the eve of the 2004 event at Riviera.

And it was sweeter than the one he won nine years ago at Riviera as he ended years of failed bids to capture the country’s most prestigious golfing championship.

"This is sweeter because I’m already 47 and not getting any younger," said Miñoza, whose latest victory should augur well for the player who last dominated Asian golf in 1998, when he won four titles.

But those years have made Miñoza wiser and more prudent in his approach to the game as he played pressure-free all throughout and stayed focused despite a start a leader would hate to have in the final round — a bogey-bogey opener.

"The key to my victory was I played relaxed golf," said Miñoza, who simply shrugged off a bogey-bogey start that enabled Liang to gain a share of the lead.

"I knew I had a chance because I was confident. But I was also a bit lucky because Liang played bad towards the end — which he rarely does," added the RP ace who tied for 53rd in last week’s Qatar Open.

One of the biggest galleries in recent years showed up at Wack Wack yesterday to watch Miñoza emerge as champion.

Rosales, eight down at the start of the day, made one big surge two flights behind Miñoza’s group, turning a tournament-best 65, an eagle-aided round spiked by a spectacular 25-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

From joint sixth, Rosales, who won an all-Filipino RP Open at Riviera in 2000, drove past five players, including Liang, to snatch the runner-up honors with a 280. He won $32,550 (roughly P1.6 million).

"I knew I had to play good to be in contention and it’s a good thing that I hit the ball good all day," said Rosales, who birdied Nos. 11 and 12, then pulled a 3-wood second shot on the par-5 14th to within 10 feet for that eagle.

Liang, 28, cracked on his way home, bogeying the final two holes and limping with a 75 and a 283 for third. He settled for $18,300.

Club veterans also noted that Miñoza and Rosales’ 1-2 finish was the best-ever performance by the local bets in the storied staging of the event with foreign players in the fold.

"When I parred No. 17, I knew it was over," added Miñoza, referring to the treacherous par-3 hole that has decided so many Open title bids.

Miñoza credited his resurgence to coach Roger Retuerto, who has helped fine tune his swing the past year.

"We have been watching my video where my swing was more on the inside. My coach said that it’s the way it should be and not more on the upright," said Miñoza, who will be trying for a back-to-back victory on the Asian Tour in the Malaysian Open next week.

Jay Bayron won the low-amateur honors with his 72 and a 292 total for joint 23rd.

Taiwan’s Lin Keng-chi finished fourth with a 284 after a 66 and won $14,790 followed by Thai Chapchai Nirat (67-285-$12,300), Anthony Kang of the US (68-286-48,257), Aussie Richard Moir (70-286-$8,257), Aussie Neven Basic (72-286-$8,257), Thai Prayad Marksaeng (74-286-$8,257), and David Bransdon of Australia (72-287-$5,910).