Antonio Lascuña went through probably the worst two months of his life that had him putting golf in the backseat and all his attention focused on family.

After that ordeal, he just got the best marching order he could ever hear from someone very dear going into a tournament.

“She just told me to go ahead and play—have fun,” Lascuña told the Inquirer over the phone in Filipino, referring to what wife Che-Che in her hospital bed last Friday asked her to do with the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship getting off the ground on Tuesday in Cavinti, Laguna.

The 54-year-old Lascuña needs something positive going for the season where he has failed to seriously contend for titles in the first three legs. He is a four-time Order of Merit champion languishing in 11th place with just over P137,000 in earnings so far.

“I was finally able to get a good night’s sleep on Friday,” he went on as his wife has started feeling better after having kidney surgery that day. “That was the first time in the last two months or so that she wasn’t in pain. And the first chance I ever got to sleep well.

“I was really ready to withdraw (from the Caliraya leg), because I was going to continue to care for her,” Lascuña said. “But she has started feeling better (after the surgery) and she just told me to play and have fun.”

There’s no doubt that Lascuña is one of those who deal best under playing pressure, his multiple wins here and abroad in stellar amateur and pro careers attesting to that. But dealing with Che-Che’s illness that was at its worst stage in the two months leading to this week was something he almost couldn’t deal with.

“I had very little time to practice and play (rounds),” he said. “If I did have the time, my mind was wandering somewhere else. I spent most of those days [teaching] my students.”

The postponement of the Valley Golf stop because of foul weather also didn’t help Lascuña with his struggles on the course. Even if it had been played, the multi-titled veteran said he surely would have fared badly.

But with something bothering him both physically and mentally now out of the way, Lascuña will come into Caliraya as refreshed as can be—especially with additional chance for sleep Sunday and Monday nights.

And the biggest thing that makes him dangerous again is: “I have no expectations of myself this week. I will go out there and have fun and hope for the best.” INQ