As television cameras gradually rise above each green of the Masters Course at Manila Southwoods, Filipino bets are taking turns familiarizing themselves with the world-class layout ahead of the international field, hoping to gain an advantage and give themselves the best chance of winning the 108th Philippine Open, which tees off next week.
Carl Corpus and Justin Quiban, two of the country’s young golfing talents expected to contend for the $1-million (approximately P64 million) top prize—the biggest purse in the tournament’s storied history—played the course under the afternoon heat on Monday as they seek to join the illustrious list of champions of Asia’s oldest national open, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“I think it would be similar to last year,” said Corpus, who represented the Philippines for the second consecutive time at the Asian Games last month. “They took away two scoring holes, so it won’t be that much of a scoring course next week.”
Corpus was referring to Nos. 4 and 15, which are usually par-5 holes for club members but will play as par-4s next week, turning the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout into a par-70 course.
“That’s potentially eight strokes there,” he added.
The Masters Course held its ground against the strong Asian Tour field that descended on local shores last year, with Frenchman Julien Sale’s 11-under-par 269 proving enough to secure the title. It was one of the tour’s lower winning totals last year, and Quiban believes the course will once again prove a stern test, particularly with its added rough this time around.
“You go three-under, and I think you’ll be good. You’ll contend,” said Quiban, who finished tied for 16th last year with a 276. “It’s still a tough course because of the (additional) roughs.
“Hitting approaches in these (roughs) will be difficult to judge.”
Quiban, who carded rounds of 73, 64, 69, and 70 last year, was referring to his second shot on No. 8, one of the two par-5 holes that will remain next week, alongside the 18th. Facing a shot from just over 190 yards, he had a 6-iron in hand.
“It’s not going to go as far,” he said. “That’s what we will deal with if we miss the fairways.”
Corpus, meanwhile, enjoyed a favorable lie in the fairway and struck a soft 4-iron from 220 yards, landing his approach within 16 feet of the hole for an eagle opportunity. Both he and Quiban eventually settled for easy birdies on the eighth.
Fairways will average between 25 and 35 yards in width as the Asian Tour seeks to limit players’ ability to overpower the course, which will play at under 7,300 yards next week.
A stellar international cast is also expected, with eight of the top 10 players in the Asian Tour Order of Merit set to compete, alongside 10 former champions led by American Berry Henson and Filipinos Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena.
