From awesome to gruesome: ‘Not Tabuena’s time to shine’

MANILA, Philippines—Rick Gibson, a Canadian who knows what it takes to win the Philippine Open, said the meltdown that ruined teenager Miguel Tabuena’s breakthrough bid for glory Sunday was bound to happen sooner than later.

The only thing he didn’t like about his protégé’s closing nine-over 81—the day’s worst score— was that it took place in the Philippine Open. At Wack Wack East. In Tabuena’s home country.

“The perfect scenario was for this to happen anywhere,” Gibson, the 2002 PH Open champion, told the Inquirer, minutes after Tabuena, a second-year pro, returned his scorecard.

“I just think the third round took a lot out of him and he wasn’t prepared for today.”

Gibson was referring to Saturday’s best round of 67 that put Tabuena, at 17 years and 121 days, in solid contention to score his first pro win and become the event’s youngest champion.

“He was put in a situation he is not used to,” added Gibson of Tabuena, whom he took under his wings a couple of years back. “He’ll know how to handle it in the future. It’s a test of fire and he’ll have to go through it.”

Pressure eventually did Tabuena in, the teener himself admitted after the round. And he bravely acknowledged it.

“I was feeling the pressure in the first few holes,” Tabuena said. “After my bogey on the first hole, my confidence level was not the same. But there’s always next year.”

Gibson said he is a firm believer of the saying that ‘What doesn’t kill you only makes you better.’ And he sounded very firm in his belief of what his ward will achieve soon.

“He is still the future of Philippine golf,” Gibson said. “It’s not if, but when.”