Exhibition match organizer respects Day's decision to back out

AP (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Dolphin Fire, the company behind the organization of the supposed one-on-one showdown between Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, expressed its full respect of Day's decision to withdraw from the said exhibition match due to a back injury.

"We fully respect Mr. Day's decision to withdraw from the match and we are one with his family, friends, and fans in hoping for his recovery," said Dolphin Fire president and director Miguel Bitanga in a statement on Friday, hours after Day officially announced his decision to pull out of the Nov. 29 clash with McIlroy at the Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao to recover from a torn ligament in his back.

[Related Story: Injury forces Day to sit out busy November including PH homecoming]

Bitanga, however, reiterated his plans of pushing through with the exhibition match for the Alagang Kapatid Foundation as scheduled.

"We are working round the clock to determine a suitable opponent for Jason and give Filipino golfing fans a match they deserved," Bitanga vowed.

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