Philippine golf’s big day – Jason, Rory face off in charity match

MANILA, Philippines – Two of the biggest names in world pro golf, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, will clash in an 18-hole charity game on Nov. 29 at the Pradera Verde Golf Course in Lubao, Pampanga.

It’s billed as “Jason vs Rory: Battle for a Cause.”

The event was presented to the media yesterday at the Bonifacio Hall of Shangri-La at The Fort.

It should be the biggest day in Philippine golf since Tiger Woods, then the world No. 1 golfer, played 18 holes at Mimosa in Pampanga in January 1998.

Or when Orchard in Dasmariñas, Cavite hosted great golfers like Greg Norman, Ernie Els and Fred Couples in the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic.

For that quick round of golf against top Asian players like Cassius Casas of the Philippines, Woods reportedly received an appearance fee of $700,000.

People paid as much as P10,000 just to watch him play.

On Nov. 29, Day, now the No. 1 golfer, and McIlroy, ranked right behind, will come to play in the event produced by Salvador Zamora of Menlo Renewable Energy Corp or MREC, and presented by PLDT and Smart.

The proceeds will go to the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of TV5 Network, which is also under the umbrella of PLDT and Smart.

Joining Zamora, a golf and music lover, in the launch were TV5 officer-in-charge and top coach Chot Reyes, and Miguel Bitanga and Valerie Floro of the Dolphin Fire Group, an investment and holding company.

Organizers are mum on how much Day and McIlroy are being paid to be part of the charity event although word is that it’s close to a million dollars – each.

Tickets will be out soon.

Photo shows, from left, Jun Fernandez, president of Metro Renewable Energy Corp (MREC), Chot Reyes of TV5, Salvador Zamora, chairman of MREC and Benjie Bitanga, chairman, Dolphin Fire, pose during the media launch of Jason vs Rory to be held on Nov. 29 at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga. JUN MENDOZA

Zamora has travelled the world watching great golfers compete.

“For years now I’ve kept telling myself, “Why not the Philippines?” This country has produced many golf greats. We also have some special young talent developing right now before our eyes. The potential for more golfing fans and players in the Philippines is there,” he said.

“This event is our groundbreaking for a new era of golf in the Philippines. My vision is to continue bringing in world-class golfing events to the Philippines to thrill our golf enthusiasts and fans, giving them access to the game and the players that they love,” said Zamora.

The Filipino businessman, a collector of guitars and other musical instruments, has acquired the rights to the European Tour, and sooner or later, the Philippines should play host to the Asian leg of the European Tour.

“More than that, I want to nurture and support our next generation of Filipino golfers by creating opportunities and venues for them to obtain the funding and training that they need,” he said.

The 28-year-old Day, an Australian with a Filipina mother, said he can’t wait to see the Philippines.

“I’m excited for my first visit to the Philippines and excited that I’ll be able to do some good for charity,” said Day in a statement released by organizers.

McIlroy, 27, a four-time Majors champion, shared the same sentiment.

“Yes, I’m really excited to be coming to the Philippines. It’s a chance to see a country I’ve never visited and compete against Jason,   great friend,” he said.