$1 million pot for Southwoods Masters

The biggest professional golf tournament in the country just got bigger.

With a new title sponsor turning it into a $1 million event, the Manila Southwoods Masters now becomes one of the top attractions of the Asian Tour on its second staging on Nov. 20 to 23.

Liang Wen-chong of China won the inaugural staging last year by nipping burly Thai Prom Meesawat in sudden death on the picturesque 18th hole of the Masters layout in Laguna, and the unorthodox Asian superstar is expected to lead the roster later in the year.

The event got a big boost when 918.com, a leading online casino company, signed up  as the new presenter of the event, whose $750,000 pot last year stood out as the biggest ever in the country.

“Last year’s inaugural Resorts World Manila Masters proved to be a victory not just for champion Liang Wen-chong, but also for Philippine golf,” said Stephen James Reilly, the COO of Resorts World Manila, during the launch yesterday.

Liang also did a noble thing when he donated half of his prize money, which was almost $30,000, to the relief efforts for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” last year.

The Manila Masters will be the third Asian Tour event in the Philippines this year counting the Solaire and Philippine Opens.