Masters to be in finest form for 108th Phl Open
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Robert John Sobrepeña/FB Robert John Sobrepeña is at the helm of Southwoods.
CARMONA, Cavite — The Manila Southwoods will be hosting the Philippine Open golf championship for the second straight year, and management of one of the most prestigious private clubs in the country is leaving no stones unturned and sparing no expense to make the 108th playing of Asia’s oldest national championship at the Masters course a special one.
A little over P35 million will be spent to turn the Jack Nicklaus-designed gem into the best version of itself before the first drive is hit on 12 November for the finale of the 2026 Asian Tour season, as the talented field will be challenged the entire week with roughs grown taller and fairways made narrower.
“The Masters will be the best version that this crack field will see come the second week of next month,” Southwoods chairman Robert John Sobrepeña said.
“The Masters is our pride and joy, and that being said, we will make sure that the best players in the region are challenged fairly that week.”
Fairways will be tightened to an average of 25 to 35 yards in width in its landing spots, even as the course will play to a par-70, two strokes less than what members are used to.
From the black tees, it will be a risk-reward course that will be stretched out to around 7,300 yards, and with roughs to be grown to an average of three to 3.5 inches, errant tee shots will be punished.
Frenchman Julien Sale is the defending champion, even as the Asian Tour and the governing National Golf Association of the Philippines made sure that the prize money this year has been doubled to $1 million (around P63 million) with the help of the Philippine Sports Commission.