Tabuena slips with 3rd straight 71, but stays hopeful at LIV Riyadh

Miguel Tabuena.

Photo by Graham Uden / Asian Tour / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Miguel Tabuena carded a third consecutive 71 to slip to joint 47th, but the Filipino ace remained upbeat about unleashing a strong closing charge at the LIV Golf Riyadh.

For the second straight day, Tabuena flashed early promise only to be undone by costly lapses late in the round. Starting on No. 12 under the bright lights, the 31-year-old shotmaker birdied his opening hole, then added another on the par-3 14th to ignite hopes of a surge against a field stacked with major champions and world-ranked stars.

At one point, Tabuena vaulted from a two-day stay at 37th to as high as 21st, briefly threatening to insert himself into the third-round conversation.

But golf proved unforgiving. A double bogey on the par-5 No. 3 halted his momentum, sending him tumbling down the leaderboard. He showed resilience by responding with a birdie on the 11th, yet the damage had been done as the rest of the 57-man elite field made their moves on moving day.

Tabuena’s round had started brilliantly. A solid drive and superb approach on No. 12 set up an 18-foot uphill curling birdie putt, which he calmly drained. Trouble followed on the 13th after a hooked drive found a fairway bunker, but he steadied himself with another birdie on the par-3 14th, where his tee shot flirted with the cup before stopping four feet past.

At two-under after just three holes, hopes were high for the runaway International Series Philippines champion. However, missed opportunities crept in. He failed to get up-and-down on the par-3 17th, missing a five-footer, though he bounced back with a 12-foot birdie on No. 18. A near chip-in on No. 1 led to par, but a mistimed drive on the second resulted in another costly double bogey.

Tabuena parred the next seven holes, mixing missed birdie chances with timely saves, before closing strongly with a crisp approach to six feet on the par-4 No. 11 for his fourth birdie of the night.

He will look to ride that late spark into the final round of the $20-million championship.

Meanwhile, Ripper GC’s rookie Elvis Smylie stole the spotlight in the pivotal round, firing one of two tournament-best 65s to force a three-way tie for the lead at 16-under 200 alongside RangeGoats GC’s Peter Uihlein, who shot a 66. Smash GC’s Talor Gooch posted a 67 to sit just one stroke back at 201.

Torque GC’s Abraham Ancer delivered the other 65 for a 202, sharing fourth with Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm and 4Aces GC’s Thomas Detry, who carded a 68.

In the team standings, Torque GC reclaimed the lead at 46-under, two strokes ahead of Smash GC (-44). Ripper GC and Legion XIII followed at -43 and -40, respectively.

Tabuena’s 4Aces slipped from third to fifth at 36-under as Detry cooled with a 68, Thomas Pieters surged with a 65, and Dustin Johnson settled for a 71.