There’s a different kind of pressure competing against the best golfers in the world right in your home turf.
But Justin Quiban is ready. In fact, he is very comfortable, vowing to deliver his best ever performance when the International Series presented by BingoPlus starts swinging this Thursday at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Quiban will be facing some of the brightest stars in professional golf like two-time major champion Dustin Johnson and former Masters king Patrick Reed as well as big guns like Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartel.
On the other hand, local stars will be coming in full force as well. Three-time Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena will be at the forefront together with Angelo Que, Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa, Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus, Sean Ramos and promising amateur Perry Bucay of De La Salle University.
“Yeah, I’m actually here in Macau now. We have another Asian Tour event here. We’ve been playing for four straight weeks and after this, we’re heading for the Philippines,” Quiban said during “Off the Court,” the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE.
“It’s really exciting because it has been quite some time since the Asian Tour or any major tour came to the Philippines. It’s really exciting because we’re getting Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, major winners coming in to play against us.”
The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus provides a rare glimpse of world-class golf for Filipino fans and, for Quiban, a taste of challenging himself against major winners while flying the flag on local soil.
“It’s a breath of fresh air as well, because it’s great to be back home competing in an international tournament. So it’s exciting, yeah,” Quiban added.
After weeks on the road, Quiban is coming back to where it all started — with renewed hunger, sharper focus, and the quiet confidence of a man who knows he belongs among the best.
Opening tee
The 29-year-old Quiban’s golf journey started when he was seven years old with his father unknowingly introducing him to a lifelong passion.
“My father got me into playing the sport. He just suddenly took me to a golf fair or golf show, and then I just spotted a set of Snoopy irons. I asked him to buy it for me so that I could just go out and play with him on the golf course, and one thing led to another,” Quiban explained.
“They realized that I was really good at the game, so here I am today.”
Over the years, Quiban has idolized players whose style is similar to his.
“Golf-wise, likely Colin Marikawa because he plays like me. He plays a fade off the tee and he’s won major championships doing it like that,” Quiban said.
“So it’s really inspiring to see someone’s gameplay like mine win those kinds of championships.”
The Muntinlupa City-born shotmaker also finds inspiration in Tiger Woods, whose mindset influenced generations of golfers.
“Of course, Tiger Woods is also an inspiration because of the way his mental attitude led him to achieve so far. It just shows that if you have the right frame of mind, you can just accomplish all of it,” Quiban said.
The International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus will be his testing ground as he will be facing the best golfers from around the world, a tournament that will open his eyes on his quality of game and the things he needs to work on.
For the country
Even fatigue brought about by competing for four consecutive weeks was not able to deter Quiban from knowing that he is among the few Filipinos battling it out in the International Series.
Actually, he is trying his best to ensure that he remains in top shape and preserves his strength.
“Maybe it’s very thrilling to do that because you’re at home, you feel at ease, and you just want to give a performance, to provide a show to the Filipino people, to inform the world what the Filipinos can deliver in this sport. I’m very motivated for that,” Quiban said.
“My mom is also very good at administering vitamins to me daily in the morning and evening before going to bed. And then the golf course, just taking a lot of electrolytes, just staying hydrated, getting proper nutrition.”
The knowledge of the Sta. Elena Golf Course will also be Quiban’s biggest advantage then the prestigious tourney that dangles a total prize of $2 million with a chance to compete in the LIV Golf League starts swinging next week.
“I believe the edge that I gained is my experience on the course and the home crowd that will be supporting us. There’s really no special preparation because we’re having tournament after tournament,” Quiban said.
He added, however, that he will have to play at his level best as the organizers are ensuring that dominating the 7,240-yard layout from the gold tee will not be a cakewalk.
“You have to hit it well off the tee because it was wide open before. But now, they mowed the rough in closer so they made the fairway a little bit narrower,” Quiban explained.
Quiban is one of the nation’s highest hopes — bearing with him the teachings of his father, the encouragement of his coaches, and the aspirations of a childhood boy who once swung a Snoopy iron.
For Justin Quiban, competing at home isn’t just another tournament: It’s a declaration — one that Filipino golfers can hold their heads high against the world’s finest.