Tabuena sees mid-round spark fade late, slips to joint 25th

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 looked every bit ready to mount a serious charge Friday at the LIV Golf Adelaide, only to see another wavering finish undo what had shaped up as a brilliant second-round response.

After opening with a steady 69, Tabuena appeared poised to build on that momentum at The Grange Golf Club in Australia, crafting a composed, confident stretch midway through his round that kept him into Top 10 contention. But late miscues on the greens stalled his climb, forcing him to settle for a one-under 71 and a four-under 140 total — good for joint 25th, nine shots behind surging leader Jon Rahm.

The 16-spot slide from a share of ninth stung, particularly because Tabuena had positioned himself so well.

Rahm, showcasing his trademark power and precision, transformed Royal Adelaide into his own playground. Following an opening 68, the Spanish star and former World No. 1 unleashed a bogey-free 63 highlighted by an eagle on No. 7, surging to a commanding 13-under 131 total. The blistering round allowed him to seize a one-stroke lead over Ben Campbell, who also carded a 63 while playing alongside Tabuena.

Campbell’s charge was equally electric. Starting at No. 5, he birdied his opening hole, then ignited with five consecutive birdies beginning at the eighth. He added another on the 14th before producing the shot of the day — holing out for an eagle-2 on the par-4 18th. He closed with steady pars the rest of the way to finish at 132.

Bryson DeChambeau, another of the tour’s heavy hitters, remained firmly in contention with a 67 for a 133 total, setting up a compelling three-way duel at the top as the tournament heads into its decisive final rounds Sunday.

Meanwhile, as Tabuena digs deeper into his LIV Golf campaign, he carries with him unwavering support from back home.

Following his confirmation of a wildcard berth — which grants him full status and a season-long campaign on one of golf’s biggest stages — his wife, Sandra, made it clear that their family stands firmly behind him.

“Wildcard status will mean a full schedule and more time away from home,” said Sandra. “But we are 100% behind him. And whenever we can, we’ll be there, cheering on from just outside the ropes.”

The opportunity marks a defining chapter in Miguel’s career, but for Sandra, it is also a moment of reflection — a culmination of years marked by perseverance, sacrifice and faith.

“As Miguel starts this season as a wildcard player on the LIV Golf League, I can’t help but look back at everything it took to get him here,” she shared. “Every setback, every little victory, every prayer. He has put in so much work — on the course, in the gym — he gives it everything he can. All that while being the most present husband and dad he can be.”

Behind the headline-making breakthrough lies a story of discipline and determination. Sandra emphasized that Miguel’s rise in the sport was built not only on talent, but on relentless effort and resilience through the ups and downs of professional golf.

She and their daughter, Paloma, take special pride in what this achievement represents — with Miguel becoming the first Filipino to compete on one of the sport’s grandest global platforms.

“I am so grateful to see him being rewarded for that hard work. He truly deserves this,” said Sandra. “Paloma and I are so proud of him. We are proud of what he has achieved. But more than that, I am proud of the way he stays grounded and grateful for every opportunity the Lord gives him.”

Starting on the fifth hole, Tabuena displayed patience and poise early. He had to dig deep to steady his round — draining a 40-foot par save on his first hole and scrambling effectively from a greenside bunker soon after. Those early escapes proved crucial. Instead of unraveling, he settled in.

After making the turn in steady fashion, Tabuena ignited a promising birdie run. A two-foot conversion on No. 10 triggered the charge. He followed it with a routine par, then knocked in a three-footer on the par-3 12th. When he poured in a confident 20-foot birdie on the next hole, he had three birdies in a four-hole stretch and suddenly looked capable of sustaining a day-long assault on the flat but bunker-laden layout.

At that point, he was striking the ball cleanly, missing few fairways, and reading the greens with assurance. His rhythm suggested more red numbers were coming.

But momentum in elite golf can be fragile.

A missed 15-footer after finding a bunker on the par-3 14th led to his first bogey and subtly shifted the tone of his round. Though he steadied himself with pars over the next three holes, the putter that had fueled his rally began to cool. A missed birdie chance from 15 feet on the 18th hinted at what was to come.

The pivotal stumble came at No. 1. With a lively, beer-fueled gallery surrounding the mound, Tabuena reached in two but faced a lengthy 35-foot putt. His first attempt came up four feet short. The second slid right of the cup — a costly three-putt that halted his push.

He briefly regained a spark with a birdie from the fringe on the par-3 third, but the closing stretch again proved unkind. On his final hole, he flared his approach into a greenside bunker and failed to convert a six-footer, sealing another bogey and another round that promised more than it delivered.

Still, there were unmistakable positives.

For long stretches, Tabuena matched the elite ball-striking on display in a stacked field. He controlled his driver, fairway woods, irons, minimized errors, and showed resilience under pressure. The difference lay in a handful of missed putts inside makeable range — the kind that separate a 71 from a 67 in a no-cut, shootout-style event.

With 36 holes remaining in the $20-million tournament, the opportunity remains wide open. LIV Golf’s format guarantees him two more rounds to recalibrate, and if he can synchronize his steady tee-to-green play with a consistently warm putter, he has shown he can hang with — and even threaten — the game’s biggest names.

The challenge now is sustaining that brilliance not just in bursts, but across an entire day.