ON TO THE NEXT
CABUYAO—The target seemed so modest at the start of last week for Miguel Tabuena: Play in the International Series Philippines and do well.
He hit that one with conviction after a performance to be remembered.
And now, as a champ of the circuit’s first stop in the country, the target has become bigger for the 31-year-old.
“Of course,” Tabuena, who won the $2 million championship by three shots over two Japanese aces on Sunday after carving out a third straight seven-under-par 65, said when asked if he wants to win the overall IS rankings race.
“The goal has been to be on [the] LIV (Golf circuit),” Tabuena went on after tallying a 24-under 264 over a Sta. Elena layout, that was at the mercy of the talented field. “I didn’t have that (No. 1 in IS rankings) in mind this week. But after getting the job done this week, it gives me a lot of confidence (entering the season homestretch).”
The Tabuena family celebrated on the 18th green, where Miguel dropped down on his knees after saving par, and mother Lorna, dad Luigi, daughter Paloma and wife Sandra—in that order—gave him hugs for a job well done.
That might be the extent of the merrymaking. Miguel and his team will board a Monday flight at high noon to Hong Kong to take part in the next IS event. Two more stops, in Singapore and then Saudi Arabia, give Tabuena the chance to nail the No. 1 ranking and make the LIV circuit outright.
Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe paces the IS rankings with 306.4 points, with Tabuena now at second with a 210.89 total after getting 180 points for his win.
“I’m now in a good position,” said Tabuena, whose main concern now is his body, having played last week just after recovering from neck spasms that had him withdrawing from a Macau event.
His play didn’t show signs of that injury—or of the numbing pressure of playing in front of family, friends and hometown fans.
Starting the day tied for the lead with Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut and Sampson Zheng of China, the Filipino birdied Nos. 2 and 3 to lead, before dropping into a tie once again with the burly Chinese heading into the hole—the par-5 eighth—which he told the Inquirer on Saturday he needed to conquer.
“I really didn’t think about the people behind me,” Tabuena said. “Really kept my foot on the pedal because I know I can’t play defensively because they will catch me.
“I just trusted my game and executed what I needed to do,” he added. “I was nervous and excited at the same time, but I was very much at peace all round.”
An eagle coming off a brilliant chip from the fringe on No. 8 and then four birdies in his next eight holes took the drama away, as his pursuers started fading.
“Local knowledge wasn’t a big factor because of the world-class field,” he said. “But I must say it played a big part in the last few holes, because I knew exactly where to place my shots. It played a big part in closing things out.”
Kazuki Higa closed out with four straight birdies, for a 65, tying countryman Yosuke Asaji, who fired a 67, at 267.
Suwannarut and Zheng submitted 69s and were another stroke off, with Australian star Marc Leishman checking in with a 65 for 271.
None of the four major winners in the field finished inside the top 10, with former Masters champ Charl Schwartzel tallying 274 after a 68, and Dustin Johnson another shot behind after closing out with a 67.
Tabuena ruled the biggest tournament ever played on local soil in terms of participation and prize money. And that $360,000 (around P20.8 million) check is not too shabby.
But Tabuena will remember this one for another thing.
“Considering the overall experience and the environment, the pressure of playing in front of family, friends and home fans is great. It’s not easy,” he said. “I won this one for all of you guys.”
