MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan tries to atone for his forgettable showing in last week’s Singapore Open as he competes in the $2 million Hong Kong Open beginning today at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
Pagunsan finished joint second-to-last in Singapore after losing in a playoff last year, his final round stint marred by a six-over 11 at the par-5 18th of the Sentosa Golf Club. But the ace Filipino shotmaker, the reigning Asian Order of Merit champion, is expected to bounce back strong this week against a field teeming with talent.
World No. 1 Rory McIlroy heads the elite cast that also includes Padraig Harrington, Jose Olazabal, Miguel Angel Jimenez, John Daly and Colin Montgomerie and Filipinos Angelo Que, Mars Pucay, Miguel Tabuena, Tony Lascuna and Elmer Salvador.
Pagunsan is paired with Montgomerie and Thai Thaworn Wiratchant at 7:20 a.m. on No. 11 while McIlroy draws Chinese Liang Wen-chong and Italy’s Matteo Manassero in the 12 noon flight on No. 1.