No room for error as Tabuena begins steep LIV Golf climb

Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines lines a putt in round 3 of the International Series Philippines golf tournament at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Laguna province on October 25, 2025.

Ted Aljibe / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena stands at the foot of one of the most demanding climbs of his professional career, with little room for error and everything to gain.

The Filipino ace launches his drive at 10:12 a.m. on No. 1 of the Black Diamond Ranch Golf & Country Club on Friday (Saturday Manila time) in Round 2 of the LIV Golf Promotions in Florida — a crucible where reputations are tested and dreams are either elevated or extinguished.

After earning an exempt status in Round 1 through a strong showing on the Asian Tour International Series, Tabuena now faces an even sterner challenge. Scores from the opening round have been wiped clean, and only the Top 20 and ties will advance beyond Round 2, turning Friday into a high-stakes sprint rather than a marathon.

The pressure only intensifies from there.

Round 3 on Saturday will again see scores reset, with only those results carrying over to Sunday’s decisive Round 4. At stake are just three full-season spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League, arguably one of the most coveted prizes in modern professional golf.

The Top 10 finishers, including ties, will also secure full exemption into the 2026 International Series — a significant reward, but one that pales in comparison to the ultimate LIV breakthrough.

For Tabuena, this is more than a tournament. It is the pursuit of a life-long dream, one forged through years of grinding on regional tours, national Opens and global qualifiers. But the path is treacherous, littered with elite competitors who bring not only talent but pedigree, experience and unrelenting hunger.

He is grouped with American Andy Ogletree, the 2023 Asian Tour International Series Order of Merit winner, and Korea’s Doyeon Hwang — a pairing that underscores the caliber of opposition Tabuena must outduel from the opening tee shot. Every swing carries consequence; every mistake risks immediate elimination.

Forty-seven hopefuls tee it up in Round 2, led by Canadian Richard Lee, who set the early tone with a superb 64 on the par-70 layout to top Round 1 Thursday. Thais Sadom Kaewkanjana and Suteepat Prateeptienchai matched 66s, while England’s Charlie Forster and American Chase Koepka posted 67s — proof of just how razor-thin the margins are in this field.

“Finishing first always feels good, but everything resets tomorrow,” said Lee, the 2014 Solaire Open champion. “The focus is the same, hit fairways, place the ball on the right side of the greens, and let good golf take care of itself.”

That philosophy may be simple in theory, but on a course that demands precision and punishes impatience, execution is anything but.

For Tabuena, the challenge is as much mental as it is technical. Known for his crisp ball-striking and reliable putting, the 31-year-old two-time Philippine Open champion must now summon not just his skill set, but his composure. With the depth of the field and the enormity of what’s at stake, he must block out distractions, resist the urge to chase numbers, and stay anchored in the present — shot by shot, hole by hole.

In a format designed to expose nerves and reward resilience, Tabuena faces a that task is clear yet daunting — rise above a stacked field, embrace the pressure, and prove he belongs on one of the world’s grandest golf stages.