Tabuena makes history as first Filipino on LIV Golf roster

The Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena reacts after winning the International Series Philippines golf tournament at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Laguna province on October 26, 2025.

Ted Aljibe / AFP

(UPDATED 5:41 P.M. with Tabuena quotes) MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena has been handed a rare — and potentially career-defining — opportunity, becoming the first Filipino golfer to compete in the LIV Golf League, the sport’s most lucrative and polarizing circuit.

Tabuena earned a place on 4Aces GC, the powerhouse team captained by two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, for the opening event of the 2026 LIV Golf season in Saudi Arabia. He steps into the lineup following Patrick Reed’s departure, as the 2018 Masters champion opted to leave LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour — a move that opened a coveted spot on Johnson’s roster.

With that, Tabuena enters LIV Golf’s inner circle, immersing himself in the league’s distinctive format — team competition, shotgun starts, and a fast-paced, limited-field spectacle built around many of the world’s biggest stars and massive financial stakes.

The 31-year-old Filipino tees it up Wednesday, February 4, at the Riyadh Golf Club in a rare nighttime opening round, grouped with RangeGoats GC’s Ben Campbell and wildcard Yosuke Asaji, the very player who narrowly edged him for the second and final outright LIV Golf League berth via the Asian Tour International Series Order of Merit last season.

Tabuena said the opportunity to join LIV Golf as a reserve was something he couldn’t turn down, even without any guarantees.

“When I got the call from LIV to be a reserve, I felt that it was an open-door opportunity for me that I didn’t want to pass,” Tabuena told Philstar.com. “There was no guarantee to play, but it was still a chance to be here, one foot in the door.”

That chance has now materialized, with Tabuena called up to compete for the 4Aces this week.

“Now that I’ve been called up to join the 4Aces this week, I plan to just give it my best shot,” he said. “Contribute whatever I can. It’s a huge privilege and I pray I can make the most of it.”

Beyond the personal milestone, Tabuena emphasized the broader significance of the moment. “At the end of the day, it’s an amazing thing for my family and I think for Philippine golf in general,” he added.

Tabuena’s presence in LIV Golf is not a product of invitation, but of performance.

He finished third in the Asian Tour International Series Rankings, highlighted by a breakthrough victory at the inaugural International Series Philippines last year. That win proved pivotal, particularly as he played alongside Johnson during the opening two rounds — a clear demonstration that he could hold his own against elite competition.

He further showed his comfort on Saudi soil by finishing joint 11th at the Saudi International last December, also held at the Riyadh Golf Club.

Tabuena could hardly have landed in a better environment. Alongside Johnson, Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry, the 4Aces GC are the reigning giants of the league — winners of the inaugural 2022 LIV Golf Team Championship and perennial title contenders.

For Tabuena, who has carried Philippine golf’s banner across the Asian Tour and International Series for more than a decade, this moment represents more than a roster spot. It is the realization of a lifelong dream to compete on the sport’s most elite global stage, against major champions, under the brightest lights professional golf can offer.

For Philippine golf, it marks a historic breakthrough — proof that homegrown talent can earn a seat, even if initially temporary, at one of the game’s most exclusive tables.

Whether this becomes a long-term LIV Golf future or a launching pad to even greater heights, Tabuena has already made history.