Philippine Sports News and Updates

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ Angelo Que will have another world to conquer in the United States this week when he joins an elite cast of Asian Tour players who are aiming at a shot of giving the region its first major title in the much awaited US Open.

Que is the second Filipino professional, after Artemio Murakami, to debut in the US Open after he successfully qualified through a sectional tournament in Japan a month ago. He joins India’s Milkha Singh, and Koreans KJ Choi, Bae Sang-moon and Charlie Wi.

Wi earned his US Open place after topping his sectional qualifying in California. The Philippine Open champion finished second for his second major test — his initial was the 2008 British Open — while big-hitting Bae was third in the qualifiers.

Que, who was last year’s Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit winner, and the Asian Tour superstars will fight it out with Open past winners’ world No.1 Tiger Woods, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, Michael Campbell, Geoff Ogilvy and Angel Cabrera.

“What I’m feeling now is the same feeling when I joined the British Open. I’m excited because this will be a new experience and nervous because I’ll be representing the country in a very high caliber event such as the US Open," Que said.

It will be a walk down memory lane for Jeev, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion as he made his major debut at the US Open at the Bethpage State Park’s Black course, which was the same venue back in 2002.

However, the 37th ranked player in the world will have to shrug off a rib injury he picked up during the recent Celtic Manor Wales Open where he finished a commendable joint sixth. The Indian will decide on Wednesday night if he is fit enough to compete in the US Open.

The immensely talented Choi, who is an Asian Tour honorary member, is also expected to sparkle at Bethpage. The powerful Korean has come close to winning Asia's first major on several occasions where he finished third at the 2004 Masters Tournament and was the halfway leader at the British Open last year.

• GMANews.TV
• Philippine Sports Central