A winning score of 10-over-par?
Coming from the mouth of the country’s top golfer, the prediction sounded more like a prank, if not downright absurd.
But Miguel Tabuena swears by his forecast in what would be the final outcome of the 99th Solaire Philippine Open blasting off Thursday at wind-swept The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“It’s quite difficult to win this tournament in under-par. The course is notorious for its strong wind, so I think a 10-over would be the winning score,” said Tabuena, who tallied a 13-over 301 total when he won the Don Pocholo Razon Memorial Cup at the toughened TCC three weeks ago.
Tabuena is the country’s lone Filipino golf Olympian (2016 Rio de Janeiro) thus far.
Though he’s coming off a highly successful season where he amassed over $500,000 in earnings and reached as high as 106 in the world rankings, Tabuena remains wary of his title defense.
Apart from the beguiling course condition, the 22-year-old former child wonder knows other equally talented and experienced golfers from the Asian Tour and the Asian Development Tour are also determined to clinch the fabled Open crown.