They say good things come to those who wait, but for Michael Mercer, “good” might be the understatement of the century.
After five decades of navigating fairways and chasing the elusive perfect shot, Mercer didn’t just break his lifelong dry spell, he did it on the grandest stage in Philippine amateur golf.
On the opening day of the 77th PAL Interclub Golf Tournament, Mercer stepped onto the tee of the 155-yard Hole No. 2 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club. What happened next is history. With a PXG 7-iron in hand and a Titleist Pro V1 teed up, Mercer took his swing. The ball tracked true, found the green, and vanished.
While the "ace" is the rarest bird in golf, the context of this one makes it nearly miraculous. This is Mercer’s first-ever hole-in-one in 50 years of playing the game. This is his first time to participate in the prestigious PAL Interclub and in a charming twist of fate, this also is his first time to fly with Philippine Airlines.
Mercer had a front-row gallery to verify his feat. His flight mates—Leo Fusilero, Edwin Ordoñez, and Ramon Sebastian—watched in disbelief as the ball disappeared into the cup, sparking a celebration that set the tone for the entire tournament.
“To play for 50 years and finally see that ball drop during my first PAL Interclub… it’s just an incredible feeling,” Mercer shared, still in disbelief and soaking in the gravity of the moment.
Mercer’s ace holds the distinction of being the first hole-in-one of the 77th edition of the PAL Interclub golf tournament. Given the difficulty of the Rancho Palos Verdes layout and the high-pressure environment of the Interclub, his ace will forever be etched in the history of the PAL interclub golf.
Michael Mercer may have arrived as a tournament rookie, but he leaves the second hole as a legend of the 77 th PAL Interclub.
The 77th PAL Interclub is supported by the following: Diamond sponsor Mastercard, Gold sponsor PRIMAX and Ajinamoto, Silver sponsor Okada, Bronze sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Boeing, Philippine National Bank and Tanduay, and official hotel partners Dusit Thani Davao and Newport World Resorts.
