PHL open sidelight: It’s better safe than sorry

MANILA, Philippines - Chan Kim is not going to make the same mistake twice.

Not when he’s just a stroke ahead of his closest pursuers heading to today’s final round of the ICTSI Philippine Open golf championship at Wack Wack.

The 24-year-old Kim went bunker to bunker on the par-3 eighth hole yesterday and wound up with a quadruple-bogey en route to a 73.

Yet he managed to grab the solo lead with 18 holes to play.

“It’s something you want to do only once in a tournament,” said Kim of his quadruple-bogey.

With its dome-shaped green, the eighth hole is a make-or-break hole at Wack Wack. Hitting a shot from the tee is like pitching onto the roof of a Volkswagen.

The hole played 189 yards yesterday and Kim hit an easy six-iron off the tee. He sent it right, hit a branch on his second shot and found the bunkers twice.

Kim was on in five. The rest is history.

“Honestly I was trying to hit it short. Anywhere in the middle short of the green leaves you with an uphill chip and a lot of green to work with,” he said. – Abac Cordero

Landing just short of the green is the best way to play the hole when you’re vying for the Philippine Open crown and the $54,000 top prize.

If needed, he would lay up. 

“It depends on the situation. I’ve heard some players in the past players lay up. If I’ve got a one or two shot lead most likely I would,” said Kim.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m going to lay up,” added.

Even in golf, it’s better safe than sorry.