Shootout looms as Philippine Masters unwraps

MANILA, Philippines — The local top guns and a slew of foreign aces slug it out beginning today hoping for a hot start in what promises to be an explosive launch to the rich ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters at the Villamor Golf Club.

Reigning Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Clyde Mondilla sees another wild finish the way it was last year when he charged back from four down to nip Tony Lascuña, Jhonnel Ababa and American Nicholas Paez by one and rule the revival of what used to be one of local version’s golfing majors.

Though Mondilla is coming off a slump with poor finishes in the early going of the PGT season, he remains upbeat of his chances at Villamor, which he likens to Del Monte where he honed his talent and skills.

“Had a bad start in the season but I feel like playing at home here at Villamor…the fairways, grass and the surface are like those at Del Monte,” said Mondilla during yesterday’s pro-am of the P3 million event put up by ICTSI and hosted by VGC.

His rivals are also pretty much the same but more determined to foil his drive for back-to-back feat and eager to test not only each other’s shotmaking and putting skills but also the tight, tree-lined layout in pursuit of one of the fabled championships in Philippine golf.

“Nobody is a sure bet here as Villamor remains a tough course. It is so tricky that a slight mistake off the mound could spell trouble since the fairways are narrow hard,” said Lascuña.