Miñoza targets rare third crown

MANILA, Philippines — Aware of the young guns’ edge in strength and staying power, golf legend Frankie Miñoza still relishes the thought of nailing another one in the Solaire Philippine Open firing off today at The Country Club.

It actually took the former Asia’s No. 1 nearly two decades before scoring a breakthrough in the country’s premier championship, bucking a tough field to win in 1998 at Riviera’s Couples course. And it took him another seven years before claiming his second Phl Open crown in 2007 at Wack Wack (There was no Open in 2003).

To date, the 58-year-old shotmaker remains the last player to win the coveted crown two times with two locals (Angelo Que and Miguel Tabuena) winning it in 2008 and 2015, respectively, and American Berry Henson, Singaporean Mardan Mamat and Marcus Both of Australia ruling in 2011, 2012 and 2014.

(Elmer Salvador and Artemio Murakami won the all-peso Phl Open in 2009 and 2010).

But this year’s staging will be doubly significant for Miñoza – with a crack at the rare third crown and that unique tag as Centennial champion of Asia’s oldest National Open.

But he knows it will be tough, albeit impossible to at least contend, given the depth of the competing field and the challenging course built for the long hitters with rock-solid resolve. 

 “I am not getting any younger,” he said. “But I’m always ready for the Open.”

But he believes the young players will have a bit of advantage over the rest of the field, especially if the winds come into play.