Olympic points staked in RWM Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Top Filipino parbusters will pit skills with the best in the Asian Tour for a crack at the rich purse and valuable ranking points in the chase for 2016 Olympics slots in the $1-million Resorts World Manila Masters slated Nov. 19-22 at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club.

Angelo Que, Tony Lascuña, Juvic Pagunsan and Miguel Tabuena are expected to carry the fight for Pinoys against a tough field of foreigners led by last year’s winner Mardan Mamat of Singapore and 2013 runner-up Prom Meesawat of Thailand.

“We’re expecting a good field of players this year,” Resorts World Manila COO Stephen Reilly said during yesterday’s presscon at the Marriott Grand Ballroom, where he joined Asian Tour CEO Mike Kerr and Manila Southwoods chairman Bob Sobrepeña in launching the event.

According to Reilly, the tournament aims to boost the development of professional golf in the country and at the same time, create opportunities for Filipino golfers to qualify for the Rio Games, while also promoting the country as a golfing haven and top-class tourist destination.

“Through our partnership with the Asian Tour and Manila Southwoods, we have a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful country to the world while also extending our fullest support towards professional golf as we prepare to celebrate golf’s return into the Olympic program next year in Rio,” said Reilly.

“It has always been our commitment to champion the Filipino and we hope our Filipino golfers will earn valuable official World Golf Ranking points on offer at the RWM Masters to enhance their hopes of playing in the Olympics,” he added.

Considered as the richest golf tournament in the country, the RWM Masters will see the competitors battle it out for supremacy and the $180,000 champion’s prize at the challenging Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters course of Manila Southwoods.

“The fairways will be firm, the greens will be really fast,” said Sobrepeña, assuring that the Masters course will be in prime condition and fit for “championship golf.”

Kerr, for his part, said he expects this year’s competition to be filled with drama and excitement especially considering it could potentially have an impact in the race for the Order of Merit crown, and with local bets giving it their all to pull off victory on homeground.

“This has been one of the premier tournaments on the Asian Tour schedule,” Kerr said.

He reiterated the benefits it will have on Filipino golfers. “They get to play some of the best in Asia, they get to play for the $1-million pot and they also get to play for official ranking points for a chance to represent their nation at the Olympics.”