STA. ROSA, Laguna — Never in Miguel Tabuena’s wildest dream did he imagine winning the most important title of his professional golf career at the same course where he grew up.
But on Sunday afternoon, with his family and friends watching his every swing, Tabuena masterfully defied the odds and lifted the International Series presented by BingoPlus title following a dramatic victory at the Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club.
The 31-year-old Tabuena, whose biggest international win was a third-place finish in Qatar, closed with a nerve-wracking 7-under par 65 for a 24-under 264 total to rule the star-studded field that had former major champions like Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Marc Leishman.
His performance that netted him his fourth Asian Tour title was the first International Series victory on home soil since South Korean ace Taehoon Ok ruled the 2022 edition at the Lotte Skyhill Country Club Jeju in South Korea.
He also repeated the trick of being a local player to win an international tournament at home since he won the Philippine Open at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in 2015.
But more than that, he pocketed $360,000 — or around P21 million — aside from a lofty standing as third in the Asian Tour Order of Merit behind Kazuki Higa of Japan and Scott Vincent of Zimbabwe that puts his closer to his goal of seeing action in the ultra-prestigious LIV Golf League.
A solid performance in the coming International Series legs in Hong Kong, Singapore and Saudi Arabia will further boost his ranking that will make him as the first Filipino to see action in the LIV Golf League.
But Tabuena admitted that nobody saw everything coming — not even himself.
“My body wasn’t 100 percent. In fact, I withdrew from Macau (Open) last week due to back spasm,” Tabuena said with the shiny golden trophy sitting on the table of a packed post-tournament press briefing.
“But somehow, we got it done. I was able to recover with my team and it’s truly humbling to see the support I had out there no matter what the challenges were. It’s really nice to compete here in front of my family and friends and show that a Filipino can do it.”
Tabuena refused to get intimidated despite the star power of the powerhouse field. He blew hot and cold in the front nine, posting a bogey at No. 7 before delivering a rare roar after scoring an eagle at No. 8 for a score of 33. Then, he birdied the 11th, 13th, 15th, and 16th holes for a 32 back to pull away from a three-way tie with Thai Sarit Suwannarut and Chinese Sampson Zheng.
He capped the dramatic victory with pars in Nos. 17 and 18, prompting him to fall on his knee and close his eyes in celebration.
“It’s a dream come true. You can’t imagine it to get any better than this,” said Tabuena, whose victory is being compared by golf sideliners to a miracle due to its degree of difficulty. In fact, prior to the event, oddsmaker pegged a very slim two-percent chance for Tabuena to win it all.
“I just fell on my knees. It was hard to keep it together — just the whole week. With the expectations I had, to be able to get it done it’s a very special feeling.”
Still, the battle is far from done.
After celebrating with his family and friends on Sunday night, Tabuena will be flying to Hong Kong for yet another important mission in quest for an elusive LIV Golf League spot.
But Tabuena will no longer be alone in his 12:30 p.m. flight bound to the former Crown colony. Together with him are the great memories and the massive momentum, proving that a Filipino — the smallest in the star-studded field — can overcome international golf’s constellation of stars.