Tabuena eyes 3rd PH Open title vs tough field in Cavite

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CARMONA, Cavite. — The year 2015 was a breakout year for Filipino ace Miguel Tabuena who, at 20, won his first Philippine Open golf championship, an Asian Tour leg, at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

Fast forward a decade later and with the prestigious event, now known as the Smart Infinity Philippine Open as an opening leg of the Asian tour, Tabuena hopes it will be the third time a charm anew as he tees off Thursday at the challenging Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club Masters course here.

No. 7 overall in last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit, Tabuena will be ranged among the tour’s elite, including three former Asian Tour Order of Merit topnotchers in American Siwan Kim (2022), Thai Jazz Janattewttanond (2019), and veteran Chinese Liang Wenchong (2007).

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Also in the field in the four-day $500,000 (around P29.28 million) blue-ribbon golf showcase offering a top pot of $90,000 (P5.2 million) are four other former PH Open champs: Filipinos Gerald Rosales (2000), Angelo Que (2008), Clyde Mondilla (2019) and Englishman Steve Lewton (2000).

Tabuena will be the man to watch as he pursues his third crown, counting the one he won in 2018 at the neighboring The Country Club in Calamba, Laguna, of what is considered Asia’s oldest pro tournament that made its bow in 1913.

Rather than feeling pressured, he welcomed the chance to overcome the challenges of the opposition and the course conditions.

“I enjoy the pressure, I welcome it. Some avoid the pressure, I believe the pressure is a privilege, no matter what you’re doing, it will sort of elevate your game in a way. I’ve dealt with pressure all my life since I turned pro,” Tabuena said.

After winning his last Asian Tour leg in the Delhi Golf Club Open in New Delhi, India in 2023, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games silver medalist is excited about competing before his countrymen in eyeing his third championship.

He acknowledged that it wouldn’t be easy, especially after holes No. 4 and 15 were converted into par fours.

“Those (holes No. 4 and 15) are usually par fives for the members. I believe that when the Asian Tour guys came, the one who did the ocular probably felt they were playing short so converted them to par fours,” Tabuena revealed, adding long-hitters could have an edge.

“Some players who aren’t long off the tee will have trouble with the rough being this still so local knowledge (of the course) will be vital. I have some of that for sure,” he said.

Que, who has called Southwoods his home for the last 26 years, shared his sentiments, saying: “Of the tee, you have to find the fairways more, if you find them, then you have more chances to reach the pins.

“With the wind blowing now like this, it is going to be challenging for everybody.”

No longer a spring chicken at 46, Que was unpressured and was just happy playing on familiar grounds.

“I am one of the older ones here at 46, so I am taking it easy, considering that I am competing against players half my age,” he said.

Tabuena is keen on upholding Philippine pride in the country’s premier golf competition.

“It’s nice playing at home, hopefully, we will be able to keep the Philippine Open in Filipino hands. And I am going to give it our best shot to win for the third time,” he said.

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