Manila: Local hopefuls including the country’s living legend Frankie Minoza believe the strength of the Filipinos will prevail as they prepare to reward the country with a home winner at the inaugural US$750,000 Resorts World Manila Masters which tees off on Thursday.
With the Philippines still coming to terms with one of the most devastating typhoons to have battered the country, Minoza, a multiple winner in Asia, is eager to land another win at the Manila Southoods Golf and Country Club this week.
“It’ll be nice to win this week so that I can make some money and help the typhoon victims,” said Minoza.
“Filipinos have very strong heart. We are used to typhoons hitting our country but it was unusual this year. We’ll get over this as we are survivors and we help each other,” added Minoza.
The 53-year-old veteran has won all over Asia and Japan throughout his illustrious career and will be looking to stake his place as one of the genuine contenders at the newest Asian Tour event this week.
“I’m getting old and I’m now enjoying my game. I’m still hitting the ball good and I’ll try my best this week,” said Minoza.
Asian Tour winner Artemio Murakami meanwhile will be banking on the familiarity of playing on his home course to steer him towards another victory.
His sole victory on the region’s premier Tour came in Malaysia in 2007 and while a win will provide his career with a much-needed boost, the 30-year-old is looking towards a much bigger cause.
“Hopefully one of us can win this week’s event as I know it’ll bring lots of cheers,” said Murakami.
“We are very thankful to Resorts World Manila for making this event happen as it’s nice to have such a big event like this in your own country. It give locals a chance to play against the best from the Asian Tour too,” added Murakami.
Typhoon Haiyan may have unleashed great destruction but for professionals like Gerald Rosales, whose biggest victory was in 2000 when he won his National Open, he knows his country will be back to his feet again.
“It was unfortunate and it’s really bad with what has happened in Tacloban. But we, Filipinos are strong and we’ll get through this,” said Rosales.
Rosales, who comes from a golfing family where his sister is also a professional golfer, will be eager to get back to his winning ways at the Resorts World Manila Masters.
“When I take part in a tournament, I always come out to win but unfortunately that doesn’t always happen all the time. But you can never tell for this week. If I give myself lots of chances, anything might happen on Sunday,” said Rosales.
Organisers of the Resorts World Manila Masters will be announcing details of their donation drive to raise funds and support relief efforts shortly.
Local professionals from the ever-growing Philippines Golf Tour (PGT) will be looking for their big break when they tee up against strong field consisting of an international mix of players from over 22 countries at the Resorts World Manila Masters.
To further develop the game of golf in the Philippines, 30 spots have been given to players from the PGT to compete against the region’s best at the Resorts World Manila Masters.
As the sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour believes that partnering the PGT is important to help grow the game domestically, especially in view of golf returning into the Olympics program in 2016.
The Resorts World Manila Masters will feature the likes of two-time PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra of Sweden, China’s Liang Wen-chong, Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, who have both enjoyed wins in the Philippines.