MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Open, the country’s premier golf championship, is back on the Asian Tour calendar starting next year, serving as the seventh leg of the 2011 circuit that would feature at least 25 tournaments, including a couple of European Tour co-sanctioned events.
The Phl Open, Asia’s oldest golfing event, failed to get an Asian Tour spot the last two years after Wack Wack hosted it last for three straight from 2006. But the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines, in keeping with its commitment to ensure the continued staging of the event, held it at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas last December.
The NGAP again failed to regain its slot on the Asian Tour calendar this year with the golf body holding the 94th edition at Valley Golf Club next week.
The Antipolo layout first hosted the Phl Open in 1991 won by American David Paulson.
The 2011 Phl Open, which will offer a total prize money of $300,000, drew a May 5-8 playdate with Wack Wack back as host although the WW president Philip Juico said it remains unofficial.
“It’s not yet final. We are still trying to fix things up, We’ll meet on Monday to discuss this,” said Juico.
The challenging Wack Wack’s east course, which underwent renovation after the last Phl Open in 2008 won by Angelo Que, is scheduled to host the event.
The Myanmar Open, also a $300,000 event, will kick off the 2011 Asian Tour season on Feb. 10-13 with the rich $2.3 million Avantha Masters in New Delhi, India hosting the second leg on Feb. 17-20.
The Sail Open, also in India, will be held March 22-25 followed by the Malaysian Open on April 14-17, the OSK Masters, also in Malaysia, on April 21-24, the $2.8 million Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea on April 28-May 1, and the Philippine Open.
Meanwhile, five of the top 10 players in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit ranking have confirmed participation in next week’s Phl Open, led by No. 3 Artemio Murakami, No. 4 Marvin Dumandan, No. 8 Benjie Magada and No. 9 Ferdie Aunzo.
No. 7 Elmer Salvador is also back to defend the crown he won at Malarayat.
The top two players, Jay Bayron and Juvic Pagunsan, are also tipped to join the P2 million event sponsored by San Miguel Corp.
Other backers are Pagcor, Orient Pearl, Amalgated Motors (Phils.) Inc., CATS, Inc., Mitsubishi and Club Car Phls. and friends of NGAP and A Round of Golf as media partner.
Registration is ongoing with fee pegged at P3,000 for local players and $70 for foreign entries. Deadline for listup ends today at 5 p.m. The field will have a minimum of 120 players, including pros and amateurs.
For deails, contact NGAP at 02-5179778/5577849, Susan (0917-5607074) or Charlyn (0922-8234758) or telefax 02-7065926 or email ngapgolf@hotmail.com.
The traditional pro-am tournament will be held Dec. 14, featuring the top pros and amateurs along with the event’s sponsors, VIPs, Valley Golf Club members and NGAP board members.