By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
For Miguel Tabuena, hosting the International Series Philippines is not only an opportunity to elevate his own game; it’s also a big win for Philippine golf.
“We all know that golf is not traditionally a spectator sport in the Philippines, but we’re very lucky to have major champions here this week,” said Tabuena, who was named the new ambassador of ArenaPlus on Tuesday, Oct. 21,
“I’m sure that by the end of the tournament, golf will be on the rise, and this is just the beginning,” he added.
This week’s $2 million event at the Sta. Elena Golf Club features a star-studded field, including major champions Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel, and 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen — players that Tabuena, along with local fans and fellow Filipino golfers, is eager to see in action.
Seeing these marquee names compete is both inspiring and challenging for Tabuena and the rest of the Filipino contingent.
“To have this kind of event on home soil is a dream come true,” said Tabuena.
“I know what it takes to win, and hopefully we can execute the game plan properly this week to give it the best shot. But beyond that, it’s another opportunity to learn, whether I play well or not,” he added.
The first round tees off on Thursday, Oct. 23, with the fourth and final round set for Sunday, Oct. 26.
Tabuena, 31, finished seventh and second in the 2024 and 2023 Asian Tour Order of Merit, respectively. He has already secured two Top Five finishes this season and most recently placed tied for 11th at the Jakarta International Series.
Joining him this week are fellow local talents Justin Quiban, Sean Ramos, Aidric Chan, Carl Jano Corpus, Angelo Que, Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa, Clyde Mondilla, and Perry Bucay.
Meanwhile, Jasper Vicencio, Official Representative of TGXI, welcomed Tabuena into the ArenaPlus family.
“We are truly grateful to have such a world-class and valued ambassador in this list. This is a clear testament that we keep on soaring high, and we hope through this, we could help elevate sports entertainment in the country,” Vicencio said.
