MANILA, Philippines - Winless so far in the season about to end, three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que hopes to end the long spell at home no less and in the richest-ever championship staged in the country in years.
“It’s always nice playing on home soil. I don’t see it as added pressure to do well and I am happy to see a lot of support from my countrymen,” said Que, who will banner the local contingent against the crack international field in the keenly awaited $1 million Resorts World Manila Masters presented by 918.com title at the Manila Southwoods’ Masters course on Nov. 20-23.
As the richest Asian Tour tournament in the Philippines, Que believes the tournament has created a positive impact on the landscape of professional golf in the country, which stages a total of three Asian Tour events annually.
“The Resorts World Manila Masters has definitely created a huge impact on the golf scene in the Philippines. It’s probably the biggest event since the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1995. It is good because everybody will go and watch the tournament and everybody would want to try and play the game,” said Que.
The 35-year-old ace shotmaker actually jointly led midway through the inaugural staging of the event last year but he struggled with his putter in the final two rounds and eventually finished tied for 25th in the then $750,000 event won by Chinese Liang Wen-chong in a playoff with Thai Prom Meesawat.
The same thrilling finish is expected in the second staging of the event which has grown in prestige and participation with the elite players on the Asian Tour expected to join the hunt for the whopping top $180,000 (P7.9 million) purse in the four-day championship sponsored by Resorts World Manila and presented by 918.com.
With still a month before the big event, Que hopes to further sharpen his ball-striking and polish his putting stroke over a course he knows like the back of his hand.
“Playing at my home club is definitely an advantage because I’ve played a lot there since I was an amateur and I know the course pretty well. I almost did it last year but hopefully, my putter will work out well this time around,” said Que.
The local hero said the feeling of winning a home tournament is one of the best experiences a golfer can savor and he hopes to raise the Resorts World trophy to end a four-year winless run on the Asian Tour, which is the region’s premier golf circuit.
“It would mean a lot to win. I would have a chance to chase the leaders on Order of Merit as well,” said Que, who triumphed at the 2008 Philippine Open.
“It will be a good feeling to win at my home club and in my home country, with friends and families out there supporting you. It would be another achievement and milestone in my career if I can win the Resorts World Manila Masters.”
Que, who has featured on the Asian Tour since 2003, said that the experience of competing abroad against the region’s top players have indeed made him a better golfer.
“I’ve learnt a lot playing on the Asian Tour over the years, not just about golf but life itself and meeting different people with different cultures. I think I’m a better person now than what I was when I first started out. Back then, I didn’t know anything. I pretty much understand the different cultures in the region now. I have learnt to appreciate and respect other people’s cultures. I think that has made me a better person,” he said.