Daily TribuneThe next generation is more confident, more skilled, and more supported than ever before. And whether they’re chasing a medal, a major, or their first birdie, they’re carrying with them the momentum of 25 years of hard-earned progress.
THE Philippine Airlines (PAL) Men’s Interclub remains the country’s unofficial national team championship, drawing the best amateur talents from across the nation. Now on its 76th edition, this year’s tournament was hosted in Bacolod City. In the photo are members of the Eastridge Golf and Country Club team, who made headlines by ending Manila Southwoods’ long reign atop the prestigious event.
Photographs courtesy of PAL
Camaraderie keeps the passion alive amid a stiff competition.
Angelo Que
Joey Mendoza
Juvic Pagunsan
Miguel Tabuena
YUKA Saso becomes the first Filipino to win a major, winning the US Women’s Open twice.
STACY REVERE/agence france-presse
At the turn of the millennium, Philippine golf was full of promise. The country had historic courses, a passionate community, and a proud legacy — but it was still searching for its moment on the world stage.
What unfolded over the next 25 years wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan rise, but a steady, inspiring climb: breakthrough wins, world-class talent and a grassroots movement that gave golf a whole new heartbeat.
As the DAILY TRIBUNE marks 25 years of telling the nation’s stories, we look back at how the sport evolved — from fairway duels to Olympic dreams — and how it won the hearts of players and fans alike.
In the early 2000s, the Philippine Airlines Interclub wasn’t just a tournament — it was a tradition. A gathering of golfers from cities and provinces, from seasoned veterans to hungry young amateurs, the Interclub became the ultimate annual showcase of team golf.
Courses like Negros Occidental in Bacolod, Mimosa in Clark, Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro, Cebu Country Club in Cebu and Apo Golf in Davao hosted unforgettable editions.
Competition was fierce, but camaraderie was the soul of it all.
By the mid-2000s, Filipino golfers began making bigger waves abroad.
Angelo Que brought flair and fire to the Asian Tour with multiple wins.
Juvic Pagunsan, calm and clinical, became a top money-winner and Olympic contender. And Miguel Tabuena, the young man with big dreams, took the 2015 Philippine Open and made his mark in Asia and beyond.
Back home, the launch of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour in 2009 gave pros a much-needed platform — regular events, solid prize money and a proving ground to grow their game.
Then came a spark in 2016.
Golf made its long-awaited return to the Olympics in Rio, and although Filipino players didn’t come home with medals, their mere presence shifted the narrative. Suddenly, young golfers had bigger dreams.
National programs responded by sending juniors abroad for training and creating better pathways for scholarships and international exposure. Golf was no longer just a niche — it was a sport with real momentum.
The game changed even more in 2018.
At the Asian Games in Jakarta, a 17-year-old named Yuka Saso stepped into the spotlight. Her individual gold, paired with a team gold alongside Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, was a statement: the Philippines had arrived in women’s golf.
Saso’s power and calm demeanor stood out, and for the first time in decades, the idea of a Filipino winning a major didn’t seem far-fetched — it felt inevitable.
That moment came on 6 June 2021. At just 19, Yuka Saso made history by winning the US Women’s Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. She became the first Filipino golfer to win a major championship, tying the record as the youngest to do it.
The image of her lifting the trophy, tears in her eyes as the Philippine flag waved behind her, sent goosebumps across the nation. People who had never watched golf before suddenly knew her name.
Though Saso would later choose to represent Japan due to dual citizenship rules, her victory left an indelible mark. She would later capture her second US Women’s Open last year.
She inspired countless kids — especially young girls — to pick up a club and believe that anything was possible. Since then, we’ve seen the rise of more young stars.
One of them is Rianne Malixi who won the US Girls and US Women’s Open Championship last year and reached a career-high third in the world amateur rankings.
The Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines has expanded its programs to reach more regions, holding year-round tournaments and building true grassroots momentum. Junior golfers are now competing in international events, and the number of Filipinos landing university scholarships — particularly women — has risen sharply. It’s not just about a dream anymore. There’s a path.
And while golf remains an expensive sport, new par-3 courses and driving ranges in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Pampanga are slowly changing that. They’re giving more kids the chance to learn, play and fall in love with the game.
Through it all, the courses have played their part.
Wack Wack, Luisita, The Country Club — these legendary venues have been the stage for Philippine golf’s biggest moments. At the same time, regional gems like Del Monte, Apo Golf, Sta. Barbara and Anvaya Cove have helped spread the game’s reach and deepen its roots.
Even golf tourism has blossomed, with Subic, Clark and El Nido hosting international visitors and events that blend sport with stunning scenery.
As we look ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the feeling is different now.
Philippine golf isn’t hoping for its moment — it’s preparing for it.
The next generation is more confident, more skilled, and more supported than ever before. And whether they’re chasing a medal, a major, or their first birdie, they’re carrying with them the momentum of 25 years of hard-earned progress.
Maybe that’s the real story. It’s not just about who won what or when. It’s about how a sport grew up with the country — and how it continues to inspire pride, purpose and a whole lot of passion.
