The Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission is the new name of the season opening event on the Asian Tour – officials confirmed today.

The inaugural tournament is due to tee-off at Wack Wack Golf & Country Club, from 5-8 February, and following elevated support from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) it received a new designation.

Boasting prizemoney of US$500,000, organisers have also secured BingoPlus as an Official Sponsor – building on their expanding golf sponsorship portfolio.

“If we can host and organise world-class sports tourism events every month, we will do it—from WTA tennis to the Asian Tour,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“These events make the country proud. They make the city proud. They make Filipino athletes proud, and they inspire our youth to aspire,” added Gregorio, also the Chairman of the National Sports Tourism-Inter Agency Committee (NST-IAC).

The tournament, organised under the auspices of the NST-IAC, had originally been named the Philippine President’s Trophy.

Jazz Janewattananond. Picture by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

“Golf is an integral part of this strategy, and we are happy to collaborate with the National Golf Association of the Philippines,” said Gregorio.

“When international athletes visit the Philippines, they don’t just compete, they experience our culture and embrace our spirit.”

An outstanding line-up of stars have entered – all hoping to make a fast start to the year.

American John Catlin [main picture], the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, and two other former number ones, countryman Sihwan Kim and Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand have entered along with Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho plus Chinese-Taipei ace Lee Chieh-po.​​

Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour over the past two years, will be joined by five other champions from last year: Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, Rattanon Wannasrichan, Poosit Supupramai and Ekpharit Wu, as well as Germany’s Dominic Foos.

Last year’s Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion Tawit Polthai from Thailand and Qualifying School winner Lin Yuxin from China will add even greater depth to the field. Nearly all of the 35 players who graduated from the School have entered.

Qualifying School winner Lin Yuxin. Picture by Jason Butler.

For BingoPlus the tournament represents another exciting opportunity to connect with the game. Last year they were the presenting partner for the hugely successful International Series Philippines.

Mr. Rafael Jasper Vicencio, President of AB Leisure Exponent Inc. said: “Through this partnership, BingoPlus, alongside our parent company DigiPlus, shows its strong commitment and reaffirms its support in sports – bridging the gap and making it more reachable and accessible to aspiring local athletes out there.

“As DigiPlus remains the leading digital entertainment platform, it aims to strengthen the partnership and collaboration between public and private sectors. The tournament is expected to have a world-class experience, draw golf fans and media attention as all eyes will be on Wack Wack Golf & Country Club in the first week of February. The inclusion of the Philippines on the Asian Tour calendar opens up new opportunities to enhance local golf athletes and future professionals while also boosting the Philippine sports tourism industry.”