Justin delos Santos is bringing more than his game to the Philippine men’s golf team’s bid to end a 40-year Asian Games gold-medal drought.
He is also bringing something that could prove just as valuable when the continental’s best golfers converge in Japan later this month: familiarity.
With the 20th Asian Games set to unfold in Aichi-Nagoya beginning September 19, the Philippines is hoping to finally break a title drought that dates back four decades. The country has not tasted golf gold in the Asiad since Ramon Brobio captured the individual title in the 1986 edition in Seoul, South Korea.
This time, delos Santos, Miguel Tabuena and Carl Corpus will carry the Philippine challenge at the East Course of Kasugai Country Club in Aichi Prefecture, where the golf competitions will be held from September 30 to October 3.
The original Philippine lineup had Rico Hoey, Tabuena and delos Santos, a formidable trio whose collective experience spans three of the world’s top professional circuits. Hoey has competed on the PGA Tour, Tabuena on LIV Golf, while Delos Santos has established himself on the Japan Golf Tour.
Many viewed the combination as one of the strongest Philippine men’s golf teams ever assembled for the regional sporting spectacle.
But Hoey withdrew a month before the Games to focus on his bid to retain his PGA Tour card for next season. He said he needed to play key fall events and earn valuable ranking points.
Corpus, meanwhile, emerged as a more-than-capable replacement.
A young player with an already growing résumé, Corpus broke through on the Asian Development Tour in 2025 before claiming his first Philippine Golf Tour victory later that year. His arrival has kept the Philippine side firmly in medal contention alongside the seasoned Tabuena and the increasingly accomplished delos Santos.
For delos Santos, however, the Asian Games represents more than a chance to win a medal. It is his first opportunity to wear the Philippine colors on such a major international stage.
‘It’s an incredible honor to represent the country. I’ve always enjoyed playing for teams or being a part of something bigger than myself, and while there may be some extra pressure, I’m completely embracing it and ready to take on the responsibility,’ delos Santos told Philstar.com.
And if there is one member of the Philippine trio who could have a distinct advantage in Japan, it is delos Santos.
Much of his professional career has been built in the country. He knows the demands of Japanese golf, the conditions, the courses and, perhaps most importantly, the greens.
The California Polytechnic State University product is still searching for his first victory in Japan, but his results show that he is more than capable of competing with the best there.
He finished solo third in the ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship in March, his best result of the season so far. He also posted a career-best solo third in the 2022 For The Players By The Players on the Japan Golf Tour.
Just last month, he tied for 11th in the Sansan KBC Augusta Golf Tournament, further underscoring his ability to contend on Japanese soil.
That familiarity could become a significant weapon at Kasugai Country Club.
‘With the Asian Games being in Japan, I think my experience in competing there adds a level of comfort and familiarity in what’s going to be a new experience for me,’ said delos Santos.
He believes his knowledge of Japanese courses and their nuances – including the speed of the greens – can help the Philippine team adjust more quickly once competition begins.
For delos Santos, that advantage comes with an added responsibility: making the most of an opportunity he has been eagerly anticipating.
Although he has yet to play alongside Tabuena or Corpus, he is hardly unfamiliar with what they can do.
‘While I haven’t gotten a chance to play with either of my teammates, I’m always keeping tabs on Filipino players and following how they’re doing, so I have full confidence in them as well as myself to go out there and bring pride to the Philippines,’ he said.
The three will compete in the three-to-play, two-to-count team format, while also chasing individual honors.
And delos Santos intends to arrive in Aichi with his game battle-tested.
He will tee it up in this week’s ANA Open at Sapporo Golf Club in Hokkaido, followed by next week’s Richard Mille Charity Tournament at Tokinodai Country Club in Ishikawa Prefecture, before making his way to Aichi for the Asian Games.
It is an aggressive buildup, but one that fits delos Santos’ approach.
He knows the Philippines has waited a long time for another Asian Games golf champion.
Now, as he prepares to make his first appearance in the country’s tri-colors, he hopes his familiarity with Japan – and his growing confidence as a player – can help turn that four-decade wait into history.
And perhaps, finally, bring Philippine golf back to the top of the Asian Games podium.