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Minoza wants to step up a gear at Volvo

The evergreen Frankie Minoza of the Philippines is eager to go one better than last year and win the end-of-season Volvo Masters of Asia next month.

Minoza finished second to local hero Thongchai Jaidee at the Thai Country Club last year after a thrilling final-day tussle.

The 48-year-old Minoza, a former Asian number one and regular winner on the Japan Tour, carried over that form into the 2007 season with an emotional home victory in the Philippine Open in February and runner-up spot at the Indonesia Open a fortnight later.

Those results took Minoza to the top of the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit with US$147,156. He is currently placed 17th after spending most of the season playing on the Japan Tour.

Minoza comes into the US$750,000 Volvo Masters of Asia on a high after his recent victory at the ABC Championship on the Japan Golf Tour. That was his seventh triumph in Japan and took his career tally to 16 victories.

“It has been a great season for me,” said Minoza. “After I won the Philippine Open my dream was to win two tournaments in one year before I reached 50 years old – and I did it.

“That was a dream come true but I still have time to win a third tournament at the Volvo Masters of Asia.”

The Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club from December 6-9 will be Minoza’s eighth tournament on the trot but he believes his passion for the game will keep him firing on all cylinders.

“I still have a passion for the game and a love for winning. I have to work hard at the gym to keep up with all the young lads on the circuit,” said Minoza, who commands huge respect on the Asian and Japan Tours.

“I will be a little bit tired (in Thailand) as it will be my eighth tournament in a row but I have to do it – I have a chance for another win before the end of the year.”

Minoza is itching to reacquaint himself with the demanding Thai Country Club layout in the finale to the Asian Tour.

“I really like Thai Country Club,” he said. “It is a long and tough course, you need to hit the ball good and putt well. I will have a good feeling going back and I hope to play well again and possibly win.”

The top-60 players on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit after the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open will be eligible to compete in the Volvo Masters of Asia which is being played at the magnificent Thai Country Club for the third successive year.

November 22, 2007