They are calling it “Jason vs Rory” as promoters feel that its sheer simplicity is enough to send the heartbeat of diehard golf fans racing.Jason, of course, is Jason Day, the Australian with Filipino lineage and reigning world No. 1.
Rory is Rory McIlroy, soon-to-be-world No. 2 from Northern Ireland.
Day and McIlroy are all set to engage in a shootout (18-hole stroke play) when Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga, hosts the world’s leading golfers on Nov. 29.
While their duel is just an exhibition whose proceeds will go to charity, event organizer Salvador Zamora insists the competitive juices of the two players will prevent them from treating the showdown as a mere goodwill game.
Both players are assured of $1 million each (P48 million) for coming over to test the greens of Pradera Verde and Zamora maintains that the arrival of Day, 28, and McIlroy, 27, should convince the international golf community that the Philippines is obsessed with the sport.
Zamora reveals that during his travels to Europe to watch, he was surprised to hear from officials there about their lack of knowledge of the Philippines as a golfing nation.
“They don’t even know about the Philippines,” said Zamora during yesterday’s formal announcement at the ShangriLa-The Fort of the golf gig that is being sponsored by PLDT and Smart alongside the Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc.
Now that Day and McIlroy have decided to meet up in the Philippines two months from today, Zamora feels that the outside world would have a better image of Philippine golf.
Aside from the actual match, Day and McIlroy are going to conduct clinics in the morning just before they tee off at 12 noon.
Day, whose mother is from the Philippines, had his finest moment last year after topping the PGA Championships, while his other triumphs include The Barclays ad BMW Championships also in 2015 and The Players Championships last may.
McIlroy, the more accomplished but rated just below Day, was the 2011 US Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships titlist and is fresh from ruling the FedEx Cup over the weekend.
Meanwhile, the flight details of the two players as well as ticket prices have yet to be finalized, according to Zamora, who heads Menlo Renewable Energy.
A gala dinner, charity auction will be held on the eve of the match.
Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/mcilroy-jason-day-in-2-m-exhibition-in-pampanga-course/#5fkrEyIdLP2Yy54U.99
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