March 28: The Asian Tour heads to Manila for the US$300,000 Philippine Open at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club from April 3-6. The full-field Asian Tour event will see a strong field vying for the title won by local hero Frankie Minoza last year.
 
The evergreen Minoza held off the combined challenges from Gerald Rosales and Liang Wen-chong to win his second Philippine Open title.  Let’s looks back at the 2007 Philippine Open.
  
Watching old videos of his past victories and undergoing corrective laser eye surgery clearly rejuvenated Frankie Minoza’s chequered career.
 
Six years after tasting his last triumph, the popular Filipino veteran was back on the winner’s pedestal, securing a second success in the Philippine Open in 2007 and his 15th career title.
 
It was a welcome change in fortunes for Minoza, who struggled with his game over the last few years. But a confidence-boosting runner-up finish at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in 2006 resuscitated his golfing life.
 
During the season break, Minoza dusted off his old videos, reminisced his glory days and noticed along the way that he was, in his words, “very relaxed” during the heat of battle. With perfect vision, an eagle-eyed Minoza swooped in for a popular two-stroke triumph at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
 
“I’ve worked hard in the off season by doing physical work. Finishing second in the Volvo Masters of Asia was good as I haven’t played that well for a very long time and after that performance, it made me relax.
 
“I’ve been watching old videos of all my previous wins and I noticed that I was so relaxed on the course then and when I played in the Philippine Open, I just said to myself that it should be just like the old times,” said Minoza.
 
Performing well in your home Open comes with the sheer weight of expectations from the home galleries but Minoza handled the pressure like a true veteran. Entering the weekend rounds, Minoza was three shots behind pacesetter Liang Wen-chong of China but superb cards of 67 and 71 saw Minoza prevailing with a 10-under-par 278 total, well clear of compatriot Gerald Rosales who charged up the leaderboard with a stunning 65.
 
“To play in your home Open, it’s very hard. There’s pressure as everyone expects you to win. It’s the hardest tournament to play in. I’ve won so many tournaments in my career but winning the Philippine Open is the best ever,” said Minoza, who was also triumphant in the Open in 1998.
 
An eagle on the par five 14th hole saw Rosales soar to his best finish in recent times. The Filipino, who has underachieved on the Asian Tour despite his enormous talents, said the hard work put in with coach Gerard Cantada paid off.
 
“I’ve been working hard for the past three years and I’m finally seeing the results now. I’ve been focusing on my swing with my coach and will continue with what we’ve been doing,” added Rosales.

Liang and Minoza have struck up a good friendship through their playing stints in Japan but this time, the younger man was forced to wait a little longer for his maiden Asian Tour title.
 
A closing 75 put paid to his title hopes after entering the last round just one behind Minoza. “I did not have a very good round and my putting was not very consistent,” said Liang.