Less than a year after almost quitting the game, Victorian Marcus Both has won the ICTSI Philippine Open by two strokes.

The 34-year-old, who lost his Asian Tour card last year for the first time since joining the Tour in 2003, closed out the tournament with a two under 70 to finish at six under, which was enough to the claim the US$300,000 Asian Tour event.

Marcus Both poses with the trophy after winning the Philippine Open, five years after his previous Asian Tour victory. PHOTO: Getty Images

He was chased all afternoon by at least six players, including Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (69) and fellow Victorian, Tour rookie Nathan Holman (70), who both finished in a group of five players tied for second.

Both was quite emotional as he accepted the trophy on the 18th green at Manila’s Wack Wack Country Club, having ended a winning drought that stretched back to the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open in 2009. This was Both’s third Asian Tour title with the PRC Sanya Open in China being his first victory back in his rookie year of 2003.

But this win was is most important to date. After losing playing rights at the end of 2013, Both has relied upon sponsor’s invites, of which he had one this week in Manila.

“It was an emotional year on and off the golf course after I lost my Tour card. I had to return to Qualifying School earlier this year and I missed the cut by one shot. It was so bad that I even thought of quitting the game,” said Both, who collected a winner’s cheque of US$54,000 for this victory.

“Words can’t describe how it feels from being an invite to a winner this week. I have to thank ICTSI and the Asian Tour for giving me the invite. To come away with the trophy is amazing. I’m a bit lost for words.”

After turning in 34, Both made a huge 20-foot birdie putt on the 15th, which he backed up with a short birdie at the next to take a three-shot lead into the 71st and 72nd holes.

Bogies at both of the final two holes had Both admitting he was lucky to hold on to victory but his closest pursuers failed to take advantage.

“I didn’t let off in the last two holes,” Both said. “I gave it full commitments there. Strange things have happen in golf and I’ve seen people hole second shots on the last to win. You just have to hope that it doesn’t happen to you!

“I hit my putt on the 15th a bit too hard but it went in. I gave it a bit more speed than what I had intended too. Then I hit one of my best swings with a 4-iron on 16 and the wind died when I needed it too. Those two holes gave me some momentum.”

Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to play and win on the Asian Tour, birdied the 2nd, 3rd nd 7th holes but struggled to keep pace with Both as he returned with 11 straight pars.

“I’m very happy with my round because it was bogey-free,” he said. “I’m not happy with my putting but I still managed to escape from making errors. I was confident I could win this event but I didn’t putt too well on the second and third day. This is all part of golf and we learn from it.”

Both, who is a member of the Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne, will now move into the top-50 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and is exempt with full playing conditions until the end of 2015.

LEADERBOARD

1. Marcus Both (Vic)                           70-66-76-70–282

T2. Siddikur Rahman (Ban)            66-73-76-69–284

T2. Nathan Holman (Vic)                  71-71-72-70–284

T2. Antonio Lascuna (Phil)            74-71-69-70–284

T2. Arnond Vongvanij (Thai)         74-72-68-70–284

 * For the full leaderboard, click here