2006 Philippine Open - Event Preview

The talented Filipino, who was part of Asia's victorious team at the Dynasty Cup last year, has tasted victory previously on the Asian Tour but nothing would give him greater pleasure than winning at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club's fabled East course.

Que will contend against the likes of title holder Adam Le Vesconte of Australia and former champions Wang Ter-chang of Chinese Taipei, ranked 10th on the UBS Order of Merit, American Anthony Kang, Filipinos Felix Casas and Gerald Rosales and Canadian Rick Gibson, the last man to win the Open at Wack Wack in 2002.

The 28-year-old took the last two weeks off from Tour after playing in four straight events and is raring to tee up again. "I'm feeling good after the break. It was kind of nice to take some time off, especially before the Philippine Open," said Que, whose lone top-10 this season came at the Maekyung Open in Korea last month.

Que rose to fame in late 2004 when he stunned two-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee and former US Open winner Corey Pavin to lift the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam and has rose to prominence ever since, capped with him holing the winning putt at the Dynasty Cup against Japan last year.

But the honour of winning his home Open, which comes with a magnificent sculpted brass trophy and a champion's designer belt produced by local company 3636, is a greater attraction for Que.

"There is a lot of pressure. A lot of people are expecting a Filipino to win the Philippine Open. We just have to keep playing and keep to my routine," said Que. "There will always be pressure. But it is always nice to be playing in front of your home crowds. It's an honour to come out and play well for the gallery and for everyone."

Wack Wack's par-72, 7,053 yards East Course will pose a challenging test with its tree-lined fairways and tricky greens and Que knows that patience must be a virtue this week.

"You need a lot of patience. You can't be greedy on this course. You have to hit lots of fairways and greens and it's okay to make bogeys. You have to keep grinding away. If you make mistakes it's okay. Everyone will make mistakes this week. The course is not as easy as it looks," said Que.

Last year's victory changed Vesconte's life as he was about to throw in the towel in his 10-year professional career. But with seven missed cuts from 10 starts this season, the Queenslander knows he needs to pick up the tempo once again.

While he won on a different course last year, the 35-year-old feels right at home at Wack Wack, which is located in metro Manila. "I enjoy playing the course. It kinds of reminds me of the course which I grew up at in Coloundra (in Australia) where it's a parkland, tree-lined course. It's very similar and I happy to be in Wack Wack," said Vesconte.

"My form has been hot and cold. I've shot some good rounds but hope to keep the bad ones away this week. You always want to make a good title defence," said Veconte.

Chinese Taipei's Wang hopes roll back the years as he triumphed in Manila some 14 years ago. As the highest ranked player in the field, the veteran feels the traditional styled course would suit his game to a tee.

"It was such a long time ago that I won in the Philippines and on this course, anything can happen. You have to work your shots around here and it kind of suit my game. I played okay in finishing tied 17th in my title defence of the Macau Open last week and I am happy with my game right now," said Wang.

All eyes will also be on Rosales, who hopes that home course advantage will drive him to a maiden Asian Tour title. He won the Open in 2000 but it wasn't part of the Asian Tour schedule then.

A seventh place finish in Macau has boosted his confidence and with a putter that has been working like a charm, Rosales is looking forward to a good week. "I've been making putts and hopefully I'll make more this week," said the 29-year-old, whose sister Jennifer is a star on the LPGA Tour.

"I know the greens here well but in tournament play, it's different. It was nice to play good last week where I hit the ball well nicely. You always want to be aggressive but on this course, you have to be patient."

Other players tipped to contend in the Philippine Open include India's Amandeep Johl, Australian Scott Strange, Thailand's Chapchai Nirat and American Bryan Saltus, all ranked inside the top-20 of the UBS Order of Merit.

May 24, 2006

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