The absolute finale of the Asian Tour promises pure drama: At the 2026 Philippine Open, it's not just about the tournament victory, but also about the prestigious Order of Merit title. An epic head-to-head between Thailand's Pavit Tangkamolprasert and Australia's Travis Smyth is imminent, and the tension is palpable.
Tangkamolprasert currently leads the Asian Tour Order of Merit with 1,364.02 points, having secured victory at the Yeangder TPC in Taiwan in September. Smyth lurks right behind with 1,178.86 points, a deficit of 185.16 points. The winner of the Philippine Open bags a hefty 525 Order of Merit points. The overall champion receives a substantial bonus of US$180,000 and full playing rights for next year's DP World Tour – a lot is at stake!
Morning Showdown
The pairing for the first round is already a statement: Tangkamolprasert and Smyth will tee off together from the 10th tee on Thursday morning at 6:55 AM local time (Wednesday evening, 11:55 PM CET). Joining them is none other than India's top star Anirban Lahiri. This setup guarantees high tension from the very first second and forces the two rivals to measure themselves directly against each other, rather than watching their competitors' scores. The Asian Tour is already stirring up the excitement:
The Course: The Ultimate Test
The Manila Southwoods Masters Course has been shortened to Par 70 for the 108th Philippine Open by converting two Par 5 holes (Numbers 4 and 15) into Par 4s. Both holes measure just under 500 yards (approx. 457 meters) and are expected to be crucial. Precision from the fairway is key here, as anyone hitting the rough will be in trouble.
Even though local favorite Miguel Tabuena is absent due to a thumb injury, the local presence is very strong: Former champion Angelo Que leads a field of 27 Filipino golfers. So, everything points to a nail-biting finale that will fittingly conclude the season.
