Miñoza eyes Malaysian Open crown

Vintage Frankie Miñoza, fresh from his morale-boosting victory in the Philippine Open, joins a power-packed roster of Asian Tour stars battling it out for top honors with some of the finest European Tour campaigners in the $1.29 million Malaysian Open, which blasts off Thursday at the Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Miñoza, 47, left for Malaysia Monday, a day after he made a triumphant return to the RP Open after a three-year absence where he outlasted his younger opponents in China’s No. 1 Liang Wen-chong and compatriot Gerald Rosales to capture what was only his second Open crown and 15th victory in a pro career spanning 24 years.

"I have been keeping myself fit by going to the gym almost everyday, even on weeks when there are no events," said Miñoza. "And I think this is the key. When you get older, you have to workout. I do a lot of running and weights. That’s how I stay in shape and I’ve been able to cope with the ever growing competitive game at my age."

He exudes confidence of putting up a tough fight against the likes of Ryder Cup veterans Lee Westwood of England and Darren Clarke of Ireland, former US Open champion Michael Campbell, Spain’s Ignacio Garrido and Miguel Angel Jimenez and fellow Asian Tour stars Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, reigning AT’s Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh of India and defending champion Charlie Wi of Korea.

Enjoying fine form with an overhauled swing and a relaxed attitude, Miñoza has hinted at playing in at least 30 tournaments in the Japan PGA and on the Asian Tour this year in a bid to regain his once lofty standing, at least on the Asian circuit.

"I’ll play in at least 30 tournaments this year. I will try to play more events to strengthen my position on the Order of Merit. This year, I hope to finish in the top-three and this is definitely a good start towards reaching my goal," said Miñoza, the former Asian Tour champ who groped for form the last few years in Japan and lost his card until he played on the Asian Tour in 2005 on exemption and re-established himself by coming up with three top 5 finishes.

He then topped the qualifying school in the Japan PGA to regain his card and enjoyed a solid 2006 season when he finished second in the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok, placed fourth in the Pakistan Open, tied for 21st in the BMW Asian Open and tied for eighth in the Volkswagen Master-China.

And his RP Open victory, his second after winning the 1998 title at Riviera, proved that he still have what it takes to win big-time golf championship.

The victory was worth $47,550 for Miñoza, who zoomed past a host of others to take the No. 2 spot with $55,250 in the current Order of Merit rankings paced by Liang ($64,940) while Rosales took the fifth spot with $34,972, thanks to his runner-up finish in the Open.

It was also a welcome return to form for the talented Rosales, who does not hold full playing rights on the Asian Tour. But with his latest showing, the former Open champ is on track to regain his full status.