And although he had not managed a look around the Sta. Elena course, the former U.S. Ryder Cup player was confident he could deal with whatever came his way.
“This will actually be my first look at the course – I am heading out this afternoon,” Johnson said. “I have got a good caddie, so hopefully he will go out and scout the course, tell me where to hit it. Then as long as my game is in good form, I’ll be able to hit it there.”
4Aces GC teammate Patrick Reed, sitting alongside Johnson and local hero Miguel Tabuena at the marquee player press conference, has seen enough of the course to know it offers a test.
Reed tees off alongside compatriot John Catlin, who was a LIV Golf reserve player in 2025 and the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, and Stinger GC’s Dean Burmester at 11:30 a.m. local time in the group before Johnson.
“I saw the golf course on Monday,” Reed said. “I played nine and then nine yesterday. Yeah, the golf course is a major golf course. You have got to work the ball both ways, and as long as you are driving it relatively long and straight, the golf course is accessible.
“But if you are off with the tee shots, it could be a long week. So the golf course looks good. I heard they had some really bad weather – a typhoon (last) Sunday – and I feel like the golf course has held up really nicely.”
Reed has the par 5s in his sights as he plots a second victory of the season following on from his LIV Golf Dallas triumph back in June. A win in the Philippines would be the perfect build-up to the defence of his Link Hong Kong Open title next week.
“I feel like every hole can turn, but really it seems like these par 5s – you have to kind of attack them,” Reed said. “If you hit a quality tee shot, it is not a guarantee after that point. You look at 10, there’s trouble near the green; same for 16. Hit too far left, and you bring the hazard into play. Miss to the right, and it is wet and nasty trying to get it up and down. To me, the par 5s are key – you have to take care of them by being smart, but also trying to get as many birdies as possible.
“The par 3s on the front are beasts compared to the back. For me, the big thing is driving it straight and being smart on the par 5s.”
International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus takes place from Oct. 23-26 at Sta. Elena Golf Course.
The tournament will pair elite competition with a vibrant entertainment experience, featuring headline concerts, premium hospitality, live music, gourmet dining, and immersive fan activities throughout the week.
Click here for tickets for the tournament, including free entry on Thursday and Friday.
(Photos courtesy of Asian Tour)
