GOLF

Tabuena pulls out of Phl Open

DT··2 MIN READ

MIGUEL Tabuena

MIGUEL Tabuena

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Miguel Tabuena/FB

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Miguel Tabuena has withdrawn from the 108th Philippine Open due to a thumb injury, dealing a major blow to the Philippines’ bid to reclaim Asia’s oldest national golf championship.

Tabuena announced his withdrawal on Instagram Friday, just days before the $1-million tournament tees off on 12 November at the Masters Course of Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

The two-time Philippine Open champion was among the country’s leading hopes, alongside former winners Angelo Que and Clyde Mondilla. He remains the last Filipino to capture the national title, having won the 100th edition at Luisita Golf and Country Club in 2018.

His absence leaves a significant void in the local campaign, with 28 Filipinos entered in the tournament seeking to end the country’s title drought.

Tabuena first won the Philippine Open in 2015 at The Country Club, ending a 12-year wait for a Filipino champion. He added a second crown in 2018 at Luisita, accounting for two of the country’s three victories in the championship since 2011.

The 31-year-old’s international experience, including his stint in the LIV Golf League, had been expected to bolster the home challenge.

Despite the setback, the Philippine Open will proceed from 12 to 15 November, with the Asian Tour and Philippine Sports Commission stepping in to keep the $1-million tournament afloat after BingoPlus withdrew as title sponsor earlier this year.

Frenchman Julien Sale, who captured last year’s revived championship at Manila Southwoods, returns to defend his crown.

Que, Mondilla, Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus, Sean Ramos and Fil-Briton Enrique Dimayuga are among those expected to lead the Philippine challenge as the country seeks its first homegrown champion since Tabuena’s 2018 triumph.

Tabuena has yet to disclose how long he will be sidelined by the thumb injury. His withdrawal comes after encouraging performances on the Asian Tour in September, including a hole-in-one at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Chinese Taipei.