Frankie, Juvic tee off vs world’s best

Frankie Miñoza and Juvic Pagunsan head the crack roster of Filipino shotmakers battling it out with some of the world’s best players, including four of the world’s top 10, in the rich Singapore Open beginning today at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.

Oozing with confidence following a pair of stirring victories in Japan and Indonesia, Miñoza and Pagunsan hope to spring a surprise over a star-studded field headed by world No. 2 American Phil Mickelson and back-to-back champion Adam Scott of Australia as they tee off in separate afternoon flights.

Miñoza, who nipped Korean Lee Dong-hwan in sudden death to rule the ABC Championship 2007 in Hyogo, Japan for his seventh Japan PGA Tour win, takes on Japanese Tetsuji Hiratsuka and Nick O’Hern in the 13:05 p.m. group.

Pagunsan, who came through with a birdie-eagle finish to beat Indian Gaganjeet Bhullar by one stroke and capture the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational crown in Jakarta, draws Thai ace Prayad Marksaeng and Ryder Cup veteran Lee Westwood in the 12:55 p.m. flight.

Seven other Filipinos are in the fold, including amateur Anthony Fernando of ICTSI, the lone RP bet who made it through the qualifiers by firing a five-under par 67 Monday.

The other Filipinos seeing action in the event, the richest tournament in the region, are Artemio Murakami, the Johor Open winner in Malaysia last August, Gerald Rosales, former Vietnam Masters champion Angelo Que, Tony Lascuña, Mars Pucay and Jerome Delariarte.

Meanwhile, Scott will bid for a third straight title while Mickelson is making his debut in the four-day championship which stakes a whopping $4-million total purse.

Current Asian Tour No. 1 Liang Wen-chong of China will play the opening two rounds with world No. 4 Ernie Els of South Africa and US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina.