Manila, Philippines: Teenage amateur prodigy Rianne Malixi has followed in the footsteps of Michelle Wie by becoming only the second female to compete against the men on the Asian Tour.
Based on her outstanding form over the past year, Malixi, third in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), was handed an exemption into the Smart Infinity Philippine Open, the season-opening event of the 2025 Asian Tour schedule.
Despite missing the half-way cut over the demanding par-70 Masters Course at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, Malixi impressed with her resilient play and mature course management.
“It’s been pretty special for me,” said Malixi, who posted rounds of 75 and 72 in the company of Thai Danthai Boonma and Malaysian Ervin Chang.
“The guys I played with were really nice to me and I was very comfortable. I really had a fun week,” said the Filipina, who made global headlines in 2024, becoming only the second golfer to win both the US Girls’ Junior and the US Women’s Amateur in the same year.
It was in 2006 that Wie, then aged 16, lined up in the Asian Tour’s SK Telecom Open in Korea, making the cut. By that time, Wie has already turned professional.
For her part, 17-year-old Malixi has committed to playing at Duke University in the United States this year and has no immediate plans to relinquish her amateur status. As well as defending her two US titles in the coming months, Malixi will be the favourite for the 2025 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) in Vietnam in March.
At Manila Southwoods where she became the first female competitor in the rich history of the Philippine Open, Malixi’s opening round included three bogeys and one double-bogey. Her second-day outing was highlighted by two birdies against four bogeys. With a 36-hole total of 147, Malixi tied for 97th in the 144-strong field, finishing ahead of a handful of Asian Tour winners and dozens of seasoned professionals.
“It was pretty good, even though I didn't have my ‘A’ game. I left a lot of putts out there. But I'm happy with how I fought throughout the two days, five-over and two-over on the men's layout is not that bad,” said Malixi.
With the Jack Nicklaus-designed Manila Southwoods course stretching to more than 7,100 yards – more than 10 per cent longer than most of the courses she plays – Malixi’s physical strength and long game prowess were severely tested.
She said: “I always had hybrids and long irons on my second shots, so definitely that was a challenge I had to take and face this week.
“Being consistent in hitting fairways was the key to this week. But I hit a couple in the rough and I didn't have enough speed to get out of it. So that was the challenge.”
