Pagunsan upbeat on first crack at US PGA

Juvic Pagunsan left for Hawaii yesterday in high spirits, hoping to put into good use months of preparation for his first stint at a US PGA Tour event — the $5.1 million Sony Open unfolding Thursday at the Waialee Country Club in Hawaii.

Pagunsan is one of the six Asian Tour stalwarts competing in the event serving as the second leg of the PGA Tour with the Filipino shotmaker gaining the rare chance to compete against many of the world’s best, including world No.2 Jim Furyk, No.5 Vijay Singh, defending champion David Toms, veteran Davis Love III and female teenage phenom Michelle Wie, on a sponsor’s invitation for winning the 2006 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year award. 

"I’ve been practicing really hard at home and didn’t have much of a break for Christmas and New Year. I got up at 5:30 a.m. every morning, jogged a lot and put in a lot of practice as well. I wanted to further improve my strength and stamina in preparation for the challenges ahead this year," said Pagunsan, brimming with confidence and enthusiasm on his maiden US PGA Tour appearance in an interview with AsianTour.com.

"I am looking forward to it. It will be my first time playing in a US Tour event and I hope I can play well. This is a good opportunity for me," said Pagunsan, who had four top 10 finishes, including a stirring runner-up feat at the Hong Kong Open that anchored his seventh place finish in the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit ranking.

Pagunsan, whose pro campaign is sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), arrives in Hawaii on Tuesday morning and he’s looking to gain local knowledge of the 7,060-yard course by playing in a practice round with the club pro, who is a Filipino.

"There are a lot of Filipinos in Hawaii and even the home pro at the course is a Filipino. I’ve arranged to play a practice round with him where I hope to learn more about the course. I will target to play my own game and hope to put up some good scores," Pagunsan said.

Aside from Singh, who is coming off a victory in last week’s PGA Tour kickoff leg, the Mercedes-Benz Championship in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, other top names competing this week are US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy of Australia, Stephen Ames, Paul Azinger, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis, John Daly, Tom Lehman and Corey Pavin.

It will also be a memorable return for Pagunsan, 28, who has already tasted sweet success in Hawaii during his blossoming amateur career some 13 years ago.

"I’ve been to Hawaii before. I won the sectional qualifying for US Amateur Championship in 1994 and played in the US Amateur in New York. However, it’s a different course for the Sony Open. I hear that it’s Michelle Wie’s home course, maybe I’ll have a chance to play with her," said Pagunsan.

Pagunsan said he feels it’s a great honor to represent the Philippines in the event, eager to showcase his skills and talent against a field teeming with talent.

"I have been really pleased with my achievements in 2006. I didn’t expect to play so well. I did not have a good start in the first half of the year but I started getting more experience after the Philippine Open. My putting also worked out so well. It was especially good in Hong Kong and Brunei," said Pagunsan, who finished tied third at the Brunei Open last August.

The other Asian Tour big guns in pursuit of glory in Hawaii include Australia’s Andrew Buckle, fifth on the UBS Order of Merit last year, compatriot Jarrod Lyle, Korea’s Charlie Wi, the 2005 Maybank Malaysian Open winner, and former Asian Tour regulars Choi Kyung-ju of Korea and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra.

After the Sony Open, Pagunsan will return to the Asian Tour and compete in the co-sanctioned Commercialbank Qatar Masters slated Jan. 25-28 in Doha. He is also expected to play in the Malaysian and Indonesia Opens in February before defending his crown in The Country Club Invitational late February at The Country Club in Laguna. 

"My goals for 2007 will be to find more success and play consistently. Winning a tournament is my first target and I know I must work harder at my game. To have a chance to play in all the co-sanctioned events will be exciting," he said. — Dante Navarro