Former champions banner RWM field

All past winners are back, ready to quash the challenge of local pros in the $1M 2017 Resorts World Manila Masters teeing off Thursday at Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

Defending champion SSP Chawrasia of India, 2015 titlist Natipong Srithong of Thailand, 2014 victor Mardan Mamat of Singapore, and 2013 inaugural winner Liang Wenchong of China showed up in Wednesday’s press conference and expressed their readiness to bag a second crown.

Repeatedly humbled in the country’s richest golf tournament, the Filipinos are out to quash the foreign invasion this time.

Young sensation Miguel Tabuena and 2011 Asia Tour of Merit king Juvic Pagunsan will spearhead the Philippine bid for the $180,000 top purse in the event that lured 132 bets from 25 countries.

Tabuena and Jay Bayron emerged as the best Filipino finishers last year, sharing 13th to 18th places with a 15-under 273 total, four shots off Chawrasia, who beat Malaysian Nicholas Fung in sudden-death.

Also expected to figure in the money derby is consistent veteran Antonio Lascuña.

Praising the course’s great shape, Chawrasia said he wants to close the year with a bang.

“I’m playing well and my confidence is high,” said the Indian, noting that he won another event at home earlier this year and placed second in another just last week.

According to Liang, the first Chinese to crash the world top 100, he’s in good form this year.

“I won in Japan and had a couple of good finishes which I can be proud of,” said Liang, best remembered for donating half of his purse to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.