Wack Wack, one of the country’s most exclusive golf and country clubs, is opening its door next week for the 92nd Philippine Open golf championships.

Golf fans can watch the action free of charge, according to Wack Wack president Luis K. Tan.

“The East layout is in tip-top shape. As usual, it will be a tough course to play in. It’s up to the players to score well here. We wish every player the best of luck next week,” Tan said.

Wack Wack closed the fabled course for weeks to spruce it up in time for the Philippine Open set April 3 to 6.

On Tuesday, the Asian Tour and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) will launch the event with the “Meet the Players” press conference at Wack Wack.

The country’s top gun and defending champion Frankie Miñoza, Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, among others, plus some of the best Asian superstars in the Asian Tour today have been invited to attend.

“Everything is set for the Philippine Open. NGAP, Asian Tour and Wack Wack are looking forward to another successful staging of the tournament,” NGAP president Leandro Mendoza said.

Mendoza, who is also the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) will grace the affair with special invitees Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han and Wack Wack president Luis K. Tan.

After the Meet the Players, a by-invitation Pro-Am one-day side event will be held on Wednesday slated at the East course.

The $ 300,000 event stakes $ 47,550 (about P1.9 million) to the champion. Miñoza, 48, winner of 16 professional tournaments that includes two Philippine Opens, knows that defending the title would be very tough.

“To play in your home Open, it’s very hard. There’s pressure as everyone expects you to win,” he said.

Miñoza took more than five years to repeat his 1998 win at The Riviera in Silang, Cavite.

For a man pushing on with age, Miñoza has shown little signs of slowing down. Last season, he went on to post two other top-10s, including a runner-up finish in the Indonesian Open, after his home victory and ended the year in 17th place on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

To put the icing on the cake, Miñoza also triumphed in Japan later in the year, winning the ABC Championship for his seventh career win in the Japanese Tour.

He subsequently became recipient of the UBS Special Achievement Award during the Asian Tour’s Gala Awards in December.