There was plenty to talk about at the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Sports Commission last week. It was the season-opening event on the Asian Tour and the player comments spoke volumes about the success of the week on the East Course at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, in Manila.

Wooyoung Cho on winning on the Asian Tour for the first time after having previously won on the Korean Tour:

“It feels very amazing. This is my first event in 2026, so I started off the season very well and I really enjoyed it.”

About his crucial par-saves after a plugged lie in the green side bunker on 11 and a short-sided chip on 12 on Sunday:

“The most important thing in my game today were the saves on 11 and 12. On hole 11 I just wanted to make bogey, just an easy bogey, but I think it was lucky to make par. On hole number 12 I think it was very important to make par as well. That’s why I won this tournament.”

On making birdie on the iconic par-three 17^th hole in round two:

“I pray every time I get to 17.”

Pavit Tangkamolprasert.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert on finishing runner-up:

“I played my best today. I mean, hitting good irons, giving myself a chance. I hit it in the fairways, and I was hoping my putts would drop. But congrats to Wooyoung, he made some really, really important putts on the back nine. I was trying to get my momentum back, but yeah, I couldn’t do it.”

About getting off to a good start to his 2026 season:

“I was surprised. You know, always in the beginning of the year I haven’t played well. But yeah, one thing that I feel that this year is different, because I didn’t have much time off off season. You know, I went to LIV Promotions, I still like kept playing. Because normally, after the last tournament I would take a vacation and then get off to a little bit of a slow start. But this year is kind of like, okay, after Saudi get ready for LIV Promotions, so I practiced a lot and that’s helped.”

Travis Smyth on playing Wack Wack Golf for the first time:

“I love it. It gives me, sort of Hong Kong Golf Club vibes, where you just sort of place it off the tee, a lot of four irons and hybrids off tees, and it was even a couple six irons off some of the par four tees. So, it’s quite cool, I’m enjoying it, it’s good.

About his current form and what has been the best part of his game so far:

“I feel like I have got good control of the ball at the moment. I’m shaping it both ways pretty nicely and the swing feels pretty simple, so I’m in a pretty good headspace.”

“The best part of my game, I’d say just committing to the shot that I want to play. Like everything’s pretty tidy if I do a good job of just committing to the shot that I want to play and not letting the fear sort of override the sort of whole process. I’m usually hitting pretty good shots, so I’d say my mind.”

After his one-under-par 71 on Saturday:

“It was a bit bipolar today, honestly.” 

Travis Smyth.

Karandeep Kochhar after his course record setting round of 65 on Saturday to take the lead:

“I think the way this course has been playing for the past two days and today, with a little bit of rain, which was there for maybe seven, eight holes, I would say I think it was probably one of my finest performances.

“Because it’s not easy out there to score, the greens are tiny, they can get quick if you’re on the wrong side of the hole. And yeah, I think I just played really well tee to green, that’s been the mantra this week, just try to hit as many greens as possible.”

About not cutting his beard all week:

“I remember when I won in Egypt, I had a long beard and everything. I wanted to get it cut on the first day, but I said you know what? I’m going to stick it out through this week. It’s looking unkempt, it’s looking disgusting, but it’s just my superstition, so I’m only gonna do it tomorrow night.”

Ian Snyman on playing a tournament at Wack Wack for the first time:

“I like it, smart play and good ball striking gets rewarded, and that’s what excites me. I don’t like lucky golf, so if you’re in the trees it should be difficult. If you’re rough, it should be difficult, so this is my type of golf course.”

Sarut Vongchaisit talking about if an old school course like Wack Wack suits his game and how it reminds him of course in Thailand:

“Yes, because I don’t hit the furthest out here, and you definitely need to know your way around out here, so that definitely helps. The grass out here is cow grass, so we are definitely used to chipping and hitting on these fairways, so that helps.”

Jeunghun Wang on making his Asian Tour debut at the Philippine Open at Wack Wack as a 16-year-old amateur in 2011:

“I don’t actually remember the course from back then, but when I played here, I was really nervous. That’s what I remember, actually.”

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.