Juvic confident, faces elite British Open cast

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan makes his British Open return Thursday, slugging it out with the world’s best shotmakers, including defending champion Phil Mickelson, former No. 1 Tiger Woods and current top ranked player Adam Scott at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.

Pagunsan made the cut in his previous Open appearance at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in 2012 after he had topped the Asian Tour Order of Merit. But he hopes to do better this week with a confidence boosted by a runner-up finish in the Mizuno Open of the Japan PGA Tour last month, which netted him a spot in the world’s third major.

The ace Filipino shotmaker opened with a 71 but slowed down with a 72 and 73 before closing out with a 75 to finish in 72nd place two years ago.

This time, he starts out with Scot Paul McKechnie and Swede Kristoffer Broberg at 10:43 a.m.