Top international and local golfers are gearing up for the 108th Philippine Open, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which tees off on November 12 at the Masters course of Manila Southwoods.
The high-stakes tournament serves as the season finale for the Asian Tour’s 2026 calendar and boasts a total prize purse of $1 million (approximately ₱64 million). A full 132-player field will compete, featuring up to 29 Filipino contenders.
Headlining the foreign contingent are former Asian Tour Order of Merit (OOM) winners John Catlin of the United States and Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond. Both players remain in contention to capture their second OOM title by securing a victory in Manila, which would dethrone current OOM leader Pavit Tangkamolpasert of Thailand.
Catlin arrives eyeing a milestone seventh national open victory, adding to a resume that already includes wins in Australia, England, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Ireland, and Hong Kong.
”You know, anytime you can win a national open, I think it just adds a little bit of extra prestige,” Catlin said after a victory in Hong Kong last May. “Anytime you can win a national open is just incredible.”
Reflecting on his stellar 2024 season, where he secured two victories, Catlin famously made history in Macau by firing a historic 59—the Asian Tour’s first-ever sub-60 score—before edging out David Puig in a sudden-death playoff.
The tournament will feature the top 20 players from the Asian Tour’s OOM rankings. Other notable contenders include Australia’s Travis Smyth, South Africa’s Ian Syman, and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho—the 2023 Rookie of the Year who is hunting for his second win of the season.
Meanwhile, Miguel Tabuena leads the local challenge as the highest-ranked Filipino golfer in the field, seeking his first win on home soil since a victory at Sta. Elena 14 months ago.
Past champions also add veteran depth to the lineup, including Angelo Que—fresh off capturing the local Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit title at Apo Golf—alongside Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and American Berry Henson.