It didn’t take long for Miguel Tabuena to prove that he belongs.
The Filipino superstar sizzled early, firing a three-under par 69 to join a powerhouse group at the ninth spot in the opening round of the LIV Golf Adelaide on Thursday at The Grange Golf Club East Course in Australia.
Teeing off as a wild card after being dropped by 4Aces GC headed by two-time major champion Dustin Johnson, Tabuena made a strong statement as he fired five birdies to underscore his brilliance in this Saudi-backed league that offers a very handsome guaranteed purse of $50,000 — or close to P3 million.
Tying Tabuena at the ninth spot are six-time Asian Tour champion John Caitlin, Jason Kokrak, Sebastian Munoz, Josele Ballester, Tyrell Hatton, Brendan Steele, Peter Uihlein, Ben Campbell and Dean Burmester.
They are just three shots behind leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Marc Leishman; two shots behind 4Aces duo of Johnson and Anthony Kim; and one shot behind Jon Rahm, Abraham Ancer, Graeme McDowell and Joaquin Niemann.
It was Tabuena’s first stint as a wild card after making his LIV Golf League debut with 4Aces GC last week in which he carded 71, 71, 71 and 69 for an overall total of six-under that put him at the 48th spot. In his place, Johnson selected the returning Kim as their new member, serving as the permanent replacement for former Masters champion Patrick Reed, who made a return to the US PGA Tour.
But getting dropped by 4Aces turned out to be a blessing.
Without team affiliation, the 31-year-old Filipino superstar had secured a full-time status as a wild card for the rest of the LIV Golf League season, completing his rise from a reserve player with no guarantees into becoming a regular competitor in one of the richest tours in international golf with a mouthwatering prize of $20 million for the individual champion.
In a social media post, Tabuena expressed his gratitude for the break given to him, starting when he won the International Series Philippines at his home course in Sta. Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna, finishing third in the Asian Tour Order of Merit last year until being drafted by Johnson as the fourth member of the 4Aces GC when Reed walked away.
“This week at Adelaide, I am no longer teeing up as a reserve, but as a wildcard for the entire LIV Golf 2026 season,” said Tabuena, who took the risk of foregoing his slot in the kickoff event of the Asian Tour at the Philippine Golf Championship at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City to stay in Riyadh until getting the call from Johnson.
“I’m grateful and ready.”
Tabuena’s father, Luigi, stressed that destiny led him to become the first Filipino to see action in the prestigious tour.
“Reserves have no guarantee they will be fielded,” said Luigi, whose son joins Scott Vincent, Richard Lee, Bjorn Hellgren, and Yosuke Asaji in the lists of wild cards.
“But as fate would have it, (Patrick) Reed left, and the 4Aces needed someone. DJ (Johnson) asked Miguel if he wanted to fill the slot — no guarantee for any other tournament.”
“When the 4Aces signed Kim, a wild card position became available. Since Miguel won the International Series Philippines and finished third in the Order of Merit, it was a natural fit.”
True enough, Tabuena proved that he has what it takes to compete in a star-studded field composed of former champions and world-class golfers.
Starting at Hole No. 15 together with Kim himself and Luis Masaveu, Tabuena warmed up with a par before hitting a birdie on par-4 No. 16. He parred the next three holes before posting birdies on Holes No. 2 and 4 to gain momentum en route to a solid opening round.