The Philippine Open still matters

For a few days last year, I felt something I had rarely felt covering golf in the Philippines: Our sport had finally arrived.

The International Series Philippines at Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna was different from anything I had experienced covering an international tournament on home soil. The crowds were big, the presentation was first-class, and the world’s attention was briefly on Philippine golf.

I saw it up close.

Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel were no longer names on a television graphic. They were walking the fairways in front of Filipino fans, signing autographs, waving to spectators and posing for selfies with children.

I had the opportunity to get close to several of them, on and off the course, and observe how they went about their business.

Reed, for example, was quite different from the image often portrayed of him internationally. He was polite, accommodating and knew how to deal with people, particularly the media.

Marc Leishman was another favorite. He stopped for pictures, talked to fans and seemed genuinely happy to accommodate their requests. When I asked if he didn’t mind, he even showed me what was inside his golf bag.

Those are moments you remember.

The tournament itself was equally impressive. The press center was world-class and worked seamlessly. Players were called in for media sessions, and even areas that were normally accessible to the media were restricted. There was a sense that this was an event that meant business.

For those few days, Philippine golf felt like it belonged.

That is why the Philippine Open’s return to Manila Southwoods next month feels bittersweet.

The tournament is back to being what it has traditionally been — a national open rather than part of the International Series — and its prize fund has been reduced to $1 million. The change is largely a consequence of the withdrawal of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund from LIV Golf, which has affected the International Series.

There is no point pretending this isn’t a step down.

But I don’t think we should look at the Philippine Open as a lesser event simply because last year’s tournament showed us something bigger.

Quite the opposite.

Having seen what international golf can do for the local game, I believe we have even more reason to support the Philippine Open.

This tournament has a history that cannot be bought with a bigger purse or imported star power. It has produced some of the finest moments in Philippine golf and given generations of Filipino players a stage on which to prove themselves.

I have covered enough Philippine Opens to know that its value goes beyond the names on the leaderboard.

It is about tradition. It is about our players. It is about fans who have followed this championship for years. And, ultimately, it is about keeping a piece of Philippine golf’s identity alive.

The stars may not be as big this time. The purse may be smaller. The international spotlight may not shine as brightly.

But the Philippine Open remains the Philippine Open.

And having seen what Philippine golf can look like on the big stage, I don’t want us to lose sight of what we already have.

If we want another Sta. Elena someday, we have to keep supporting the tournaments that can take us there.