IN danger of being scrapped just months before after LIV Golf fell into hard times, the 108th Philippine Open defiantly remained a worthy destination for many of the best in the Asian Tour because of a couple of big reasons.
First, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Asian Tour partnered to put up a hefty US$1 million prize purse for the Nov. 12-15 spectacle at the Masters of Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite.
And then there is the scrapping of an event in Saudi Arabia because of security concerns that made the PH Open the final event of the Asian Tour season, which raised the stakes for players wanting to keep their cards.
PSC chips in
"It was a no-brainer for the PSC to step in and chip in its share," Pato Gregorio, chair of the government's sports funding agency, said. "The Open is the crown jewel of pro golf in the Asian region and there's no doubt that it is worth saving.
"And of course, this is another chance for the country to open its doors to various cultures, for them to experience the Philippines in a different way," Gregorio added.
"This is just another chance for us to show them the best of our country - our players included."
With the new direction that LIV Golf has taken, the event that was supposed to be an International Series stop is now back as a regular Asian Tour event where Frenchman Julien Sale is the defending champion.
LIV 1.0 going belly up put all the planning of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and the Asian Tour in disarray sometime in August as the two bodies had to scramble just to be able to put a decent number up as prize money.
Southwoods stayed put as the host venue and kept on reinvigorating its Jack Nicklaus-designed gem despite the uncertainties, even as the NGAP continued exploring avenues with the Tour.
And then the confirmation from Gregorio, who wants to give the local pros all the chances they can get to win the prestigious event, while reiterating his thrust to also promote tourism in the country.
"It's a two-for-one thing for the PSC," Gregorio said. "There's no greater objective than helping our Filipino pros, while at the same time the doors of our country are open for the world to see."
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