It will be a game of redemption or bust for the Philippines’ Juvic Pagunsan in the $6-million Barclays Singapore Open which starts Thursday at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Pagunsan, a year older and wiser, is returning to the scene of his runner-up finish last year, after he lost in a one-hole playoff against Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain.
Though he didn’t pick up the win, he tabbed $666,000, his biggest career prize pot as a professional, which ultimately pushed him to the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
This week, he’ll be facing practically the same foes, including Fernandez-Castano, plus a major contender in World Number One and Major champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland.
What’s even more exciting for Pagunsan is that his wife is three months on the way to his second baby, a fact that could motivate him more to go for the $1-million champion’s prize.
“I’m excited with her pregnancy and, at the same time, I have to work harder for my family’s future. It’s not just about me, but also for them,” said the 34-year-old Bacolodnon.
Sentosa’s Serapong layout, a challenging tough as it is, may be an even tougher course this year especially with major changes done in the previous year.
The revamped course has a configuration of water hazards and bunker complexes. The course’s yardage was lengthened from 6,493 to 6,675 meters and the greens were re-contoured, making them larger and faster.
Pagunsan noticed, also, the rough areas in the fairways, as having tall and long grass, and that could prove critical in the first two rounds.
“It will be a factor but I think I have a pretty good chance at the title this year. I’ve learned my lesson the last time and I can use the experience as an advantage,” he said.
Pagunsan will play alongside all four past and present Order of Merit champions including China’s Liang Wen-chong, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee. Also in the field are Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington, Todd Hamilton, Y.E. Yang, John Daly and Michael Campbell.
