Manila Southwoods has, putting it plainly, taken its hosting of the 108th Philippine Open presented by the Philippine Sports Commission rather personally.
From ensuring that its Masters Course is in the best possible condition to taking care of the fans by opening its doors free of charge, the posh layout has gone all out to put its best foot forward and is looking to make a statement this week.
Southwoods also used its fourth and final slot to field Jung Jaehyun, a former standout of its highly successful team program that dominated the PAL Interclub and Fil-Am tournaments, giving the club a strong representation in the $1-million (approximately P64-million) championship.
“I’m excited that the (PH Open) is at that course,” Jung told the Chosun Daily last Sunday after his victory. “The tournament is at a course which I (played) since childhood.”
Jung, who spent 12 years in the Philippines, is coming off an impressive victory in the Korean PGA Tour Championship last Sunday, earning his first win on his home circuit.
The 21-year-old, who goes by the nickname Jeff, grew up playing golf at Southwoods, where his father was an expatriate and club member. He later represented the club for five years in the Interclub and Fil-Am championships before turning professional.
With his victory last Sunday, capped by a flawless eight-under-par 64 in the final round at Teddy Valley Golf and Resort, Jung became the third former Southwoods player to win on a major international tour. The other two are Tom Kim, who has won on the US PGA Tour, and Yuto Katsuragawa, who captured a DP World Tour and Japan Tour event just three weeks ago.
“It just goes to show that our program is working,” Southwoods general manager Jayson Yu said. “Having the boys train here in our facilities is a vision of chairman Bob (Sobrepena) and the board.”
Katsuragawa, who competed in last year’s Philippine Open won by France’s Julien Sale, had initially committed to this year’s edition but eventually had to withdraw after his latest DP World Tour victory secured him a spot in the season-ending Race to Dubai Championship.
“We will be watching Jeff with great pleasure this week and will be rooting for all our boys,” Yu added.
Meanwhile, the bulk of the foreign field has already arrived, with a significant number of players, including former PGA Tour star and LIV Golf mainstay Kevin Na, heading straight to Southwoods to get a feel for the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.
