A banner year for Pagunsan
Juvic Pagunsan is poised to play in one of the richest tournaments of his life. That would be next week, at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, where, if he is lucky to have a strong finish this week, he may get the chance to tee up with recently-named PGA Tour Player of the Year Justin Thomas.
The 39-year-old Filipino golf star is currently in 10th place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit standings, and needs to keep that spot, or better it, to play at the CIMB Classic where $7 mil- lion is at stake.
Pagunsan is playing at this week’s Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan where the final CIMB field will be determined. Pagunsan put himself in contention for a spot after a tie for second place in last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.
From 17th spot, the Filipino managed to squeeze himself into the top 10 with his strong play. But he needs another stellar performance this week to officially clinch the spot.
Even if Pagunsan makes it, the odds are long that he will win the event in KL which has attracted a starry, starry field that includes, besides the ultra-talented Thomas, global stars Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Charles Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen, Jonathan Vegas, Adam Hadwin, Si Woo Kim, and Branden Grace, who all played in the recent President’s Cup.
Of course, Pagunsan would have avoided the stress of having to play a second straight tournament in Taiwan had he held up in the final round of last week’s Mercuries Masters.
Pagunsan led the final round by one stroke, but eventually settled for second place in a tie with three others. He shot a two-over-par 74, where even par would have earned him a playoff for the title, and a one-under-par, the title itself.
What a day to shoot his worst round. He had earlier rounds of 68-69-70 and looked headed to ending a 10-year title drought. Closing out tournaments has been a problem for Pagunsan. He was Asia’s most outstanding player in 2011, winning the Order of Merit that year, the first Filipino to get the honor.
But that year was unique because he never won a title to highlight the feat. It was his consistency that carried the day. That seems to be the case again this year. His consistency has made him a millionaire many times over.
He has earned more than 23 million so far this year, playing alternately in the Japan Golf Tour and the Asian Tour, making him the richest Filipino athlete outside of Manny Pacquiao.
In the Asian Tour, for instance, he played just seven events and banked over 10 million, while in Japan, he earned over 13 million playing in just 10 events. The year isn’t over yet and, looming ahead, is the rich CIMB Classic, where, if he manages to sneak in, will assure him of a rich payday. The Classic only has a 78-man field, with no cut.
But to make the year truly memorable, Pagunsan has to end his losing streak. He needs to end the year with a victory in an international event. That would be a fitting end to a prosperous year.