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Frankie
Miñoza, the country’s main draw in international golf
tournaments, has brought his A-game to another level
when he temporarily moved over from the Asian Tour to
the Japan Golf Tour (JGT) last month.
The
Bukidnon-native has already announced his plan of going
back to the cash-rich JGT “at the right time” as early
as February, exactly after hoisting the crown of the
91st Philippine Open held at Wack Wack’s East course.
Probably, this could very well be the perfect
opportunity for Miñoza. He is all set to strut his
wares in the ¥130-million Gate Way To The Open Mizuno
Open Yomiuri Classic in Hyogo.
With the
¥26 million for the overall winner at the Mizuno Open,
that would translate to a conservatively cool P7
million.
True,
Miñoza’s earnings for 2007 in the Asian Tour has already
breached the P7-million mark as well. However, it took
him five months and 13 tournaments before achieving it.
But in
the Mizuno Open, the 47-year-old, who is enjoying fine
form in recent years, could match that amount in just
four days. That is, of course, if he wins.
Nevertheless, the way Miñoza is playing lately, he will
be a marked man especially by most Japanese who are all
too familiar with his game.
So why
does he keep coming back to the Japan Golf Tour? The
answer is quite obvious.
At the
end of the 2006 season, he has pocketed career earnings
of ¥20,279,473, or about P7.5 million, and was 53rd in
the final Money Rankings. A rank lower at 54th spot was
world No.1 Tiger Woods, who only earned ¥20 million.
Currently, Miñoza has already played in five JGT
tournaments, getting past the second round three times
(The Crowns, Japan PGA Championship and Mitsubishi
Diamond Cup Golf) and missed the cut in two (Munsingwear
Open KSB Cup and JCB Classic) for a total prize money of
¥3,686,285, or P1.3 million. |
