Former champ returns to scene of greatest triumph

If there’s one player who welcomed the last-minute change in venue of the DHL-Philippine Open with open arms, it was Gerald Rosales.

"At least I know the course better," said the 27-year-old Rosales, referring to Riviera’s ravine-laced Langer layout, now the new site of the 88th staging of the country’s premier golf championship after Mimosa, citing its "limited resources," backed out at the last minute.

Not only is Rosales familiar with the course, but he also values the par-71 layout so much, having scored his very first victory there as a pro in 2000.

And it is pure coincidence that he would be returning to the Langer layout on Feb. 26 chasing a second Open crown, only the twist is that Rosales would be facing a very formidable challenge this year than the first time.

Because when he won the RP Open four years ago, Rosales bested an all-Filipino field for an all-peso purse, scoring a nine-over par 293 total for a two-stroke victory over Tony Lascuna and Rey Pagunsan.

This time, however, he would be battling it out for the top $24,225 prize not only against a Frankie Miñoza-led local squad but also a talent-rich foreign field, headed by defending champion Rick Gibson of Canada.

And this time, he will have to do it all without the help of sister Jennifer, who caddied for him in the last two days of the 2000 Open and whose presence further boosted Rosales’ confidence to win the crown.

Now a regular campaigner on the LPGA Tour, Jennifer was actually invited to play in this year’s DHL-RP Open in what could’ve been a historic stint by a Filipina golfer in an all-male championship. But a previous commitment to play in the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia, slated in the very same week of the Open, aborted the plan.

But with or without his sister, Rosales vows to dish out a solid game through all four days of competition in the $150,000 championship presented by San Miguel Corp.

Despite missing the cut in the tough Johnnie Walker Classic won by Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez in Thailand last month, Rosales remains confident of his chances in the Open with a form he hopes to further hone up as he competes in the Malaysian Open next week.

"I’m hitting solid these past few days. I hope to do well in Malaysia and then come back here for the RP Open," said Rosales, whose best finish so far in the Asian PGA Tour was third in Singapore in 2000.