Open pro-am on; No. 8 to test field

ITS NEWLY grown fangs notwithstanding, Wack Wack East course’s shortest hole could ultimately decide the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Open.

With everyone in the 150-player field having the length off the tee to deal with the longer, meaner East layout, the par-3 eighth hole could be where all the drama will unfold in the $300,000 event that fires off on Thursday.

The “Camel Back,” so dubbed because of the contour of its green, has been the graveyard of many bidders’ dreams, including the likes of former champion Cassius Casas and two-time winner Frankie Miñoza.

In 2008, when the Open was last played at Wack Wack, Chinese-Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, who was among the leaders, signed for a horrendous 12 for the hole in the third round, eventually finishing five strokes behind champion Angelo Que.

“I thought I was a good player already, until I came upon that hole,” Lin had told the Inquirer after that round. “I got greedy and paid the price.”

Had Lin made just a double bogey there, he would have won the biggest event of his career thus far.

“It’s going to be a really difficult hole to play,” said defending champion Artemio Murakami, who will come into the event shooting 29-under in his last six rounds in Malaysia.

No. 8 was also lengthened to 191 yards, and players who can’t command their tee shots to sit on the green would be better off playing it safe in front and try to get up and down.

Wayward shots that go left, right or over require a very delicate second shot, and shots that land in the bunkers will prove to be the biggest challenge for everyone.

The traditional pro-am will get the event under way today with the top players joining select guests and sponsors.

International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is the chief sponsor of the event, held under the auspices of the National Golf Association, with San Miguel Corp., Globe Telecom, Lexus, HSBC, Splash Corp. and Ayala Land Premier with Srixon, Ricoh, BlackBerry, Inetol, Motorola, Label 5 and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria as supporters.