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ONE
extremely emotional moment in Sunday’s historic 91st
staging of the Philippine Open came during the
traditional awards rites at the 18th hole when Filipino
ace Frankie Miñoza hoisted the championship trophy for
the second time in his illustrious career.
That
capped an extraordinary week—something that gave
hometown fans something to cheer about at the start of
2007.
Miñoza
shot birdies after birdies and fended off rallies after
rallies to bring back the country’s lost glory in
Asia’s oldest national open championship.
He was
definitely brilliant, if not dominant, and simply a
wonder to watch that anyone who failed to witness how he
tamed the fabled and tough East course of Wack Wack Golf
and Country Club literally missed half of their golfing
lives.
The
47-year-old Miñoza, a product of the Del Monte Golf Club
in Don Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, could probably be
kicking off the best golf he has ever had in years. The
way he approached the game—even before the tournament
started—was simply fantastic, to put it in the
superlative.
“He’s
clearly the best among the men right now and he’s
showing them how to get it done,” former-President Fidel
V. Ramos told friends as he stood behind the corded area
around the 18th green as Miñoza received his trophy.
Only
last month, the winner of 14 tournaments in the
continent—including six in the rich Japan Golf
Tour—finished second in the Pakistan Open, thus
bolstering his confidence heading toward Wack Wack.
Clearly, he was at his peak.
Every
fan knew Wack Wack’s 7,053-yard East layout rewards
patient players. And that’s just exactly what Miñoza
did.
Consider
this: Miñoza opened his bid on Thursday with a modest
one-over par 73. He meticulously studied the conditions
of the East course, dubbed the Beast by Wack Wack
handlers.
Armed
with more knowledge of the playing field, Miñoza
attacked with precision and consistency to go five-under
at 67 the next day and was within striking distance of
the leaders, including good friend and fellow Japan Golf
Tour card holder Liang Wen-chong of China.
By that
time, the others knew that Miñoza was dead serious, and
obviously scared the hell out of the opposition judging
by the way he masterfully conquered the 156-man field.
Still,
the country’s adjudged No. 1 player wasn’t through yet.
He matched par with another 67 on the third day and
overtook erstwhile leader Li.
Isn’t it
ironic?
Despite
the win worth P2.3 million, Miñoza remained unsatisfied
with his shot-making throughout the week.
It was
good though, according to Miñoza, that he took to his
“second father,” former pro Roger Retuerto, to hone his
swing back to fine form.
“Frankie
called me to help him with his swing. When it comes to
that, I’m the only one he trusts. He’s like a son to me
so I can’t say no,” said Retuerto, a former teaching pro
of the Brunei national team.
Retuerto
is very happy with his ward’s triumphant return, but
noted Miñoza could still go rungs higher.
In July
last year, Frankie sought his mentor to fix a minor kink
in his arsenal. Straight away, the 60-year-old Retuerto
made Miñoza swing in just one plane and more circular
position.
“He
really gave it his all to improve his swing,” Retuerto
bragged.
They
couldn’t talk to each other during the tournament, rules
don’t permit that. But when the smoke of the battle
cleared, and the trophy was safely wrapped in Miñoza’s
bag, they hugged each other tightly to the delight of
hundreds of adoring fans.
Out of
nowhere
Gerald
Rosales, older brother to Ladies Professional Golf
Association star Jennifer, surprised everyone, including
himself, as the RP Open winner in 2000 at the Riviera
Golf Club, vaulted to a runner-up finish worth $32,550.
The
30-year-old former Asian Tour campaigner was in sixth
position heading into the final round and was staring at
an eight-stroke deficit off Miñoza. At the end of the
day, he made a seven-under-par 65, highlighted by an
eagle on No. 14, to complete the Filipino’s domination
of the Open.
“The
eagle felt really good. I drove it well off the tee and
used a 3-wood for my second shot that left the ball
about 10 feet from the pin. This score (65) is the best,
so far for me, here at Wack Wack,” he said.
After
holing out, Rosales was greeted by his wife Ann, J-Ro
(Jennifer) and three-year-old son, Antonio, who shouted
“Daddy!” “Daddy!” as he ran down the fairway.
Yes, in
paper, that 65 looks fantastic. Nevertheless, it is
still not the best in the Mandaluyong City-based golf
club.
The
single, most dominant game in the 91st Open was an
eight-under 64 churned out by Kou Chie-hsiung of
Taiwan,
said Wack Wack ground committee chairman Ernesto Lim.
“We
thoroughly checked our records and found out that,
indeed, the distinction belongs to the Taiwanese,” Lim
said.
No. 3 up
next
Miñoza
has promised to be back next year and try to establish
another record in the RP Open. “It will be sweeter if I
can win again in 2008. Hopefully, I get lucky again next
year,” said Miñoza, tongue in cheek.
Miñoza
expects to be a marked man next year, but remains
unfazed. “The field is getting tougher and tougher
nowadays. So many players can spring a surprise anytime.
Rest assured that I’ll be more ready when the time
comes,” he said.
Bigger
RP Open
If the
Asian Tour headed by executive director Kyila Han again
showed its expertise in running the recent Open
smoothly—despite earlier hitches on sponsorships that
caused two postponements—next year’s promises to be
bigger, new Wack Wack president Luis Tan said.
Tan, who
replaced Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin S.
Abalos only recently, expressed appreciation to the
Asian Tour group, National Golf Association of the
Philippines (NGAP) and all supporters including the
First Gentleman Foundation, International Container
Terminal Services Inc., San Miguel Corp., Smart,
Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. and official
carrier Philippine Airlines.
“They
[have been handling] the Philippine Open very well,”
said Tan. “Our club is very impressed. It’s nice to be
working with them.”
Tan, a
Wack Wack honorary lifetime member, is also looking
forward to even better things next year—the last of a
three-year contract between Asian Tour and NGAP to stage
the Open at the club’s East course.
“It may
be the final year, but I hope the Asian Tour will make
our club the permanent home of Asia’s oldest pro
tournament,” Tan said. |
