Siargao: Canlubang, Laguna: Guido van der Valk is setting his sights on a third title in the prestigious The Country Club (TCC) Invitational event, which unfolds Jan. 27 in Canlubang, Laguna. 'It's always great to play the TCC Invitational and anytime you tee it up here, you want a chance to win,' the 45-year-old Dutch said in a news release Sunday. Van der Valk will face a new wave of younger, longer-hitting players surging through the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), joined by battle-tested international campaigners.
According to Philippines News Agency, van der Valk expressed the urgency of achieving another victory at the TCC Invitational. 'I don't have many years left to win it. So winning a third TCC Invitational would really be a dream,' he said. The Dutch golfer recalled last year's final round, where he was ahead by two strokes with just one hole to play but stumbled into sudden death, eventually losing to first-time champion Gwon Minwook of Korea. 'Last year was tough for me. My dad had just passed away and emotionally, I was going through a lot. Honestly, I was surprised to even be in contention,' van der Valk said.
He is optimistic about his stint in the PHP6-million championship, which also serves as the kick-off of the 2026 PGT season. 'I don't think the same things will happen again. I've worked hard and I'm excited about where my game is right now,' van der Valk said. 'I always miss competing when there are no tournaments. So I'm really excited to get started.'
The TCC Invitational traditionally features only the top 30 players from the previous season's PGT Order of Merit, making the field one of the most formidable of the year. Leading the elite local cast is three-time champion and reigning Order of Merit titlist Angelo Que, joined by a deep roster of proven winners and rising stars, including Keanu Jahns, Fidel Concepcion, Rupert Zaragosa, Reymon Jaraula, Russell Bautista, Clyde Mondilla, Jeffren Lumbo, and Tony Lascu±a. Other foreign contenders aside from Gwon are Jaehyun Jung, Collin Wheeler, and Atsushi Ueda.
