Local tour restarts Nov. 17; upbeat Tabuena praying for ‘good bubble experience’
The first of two tournaments signaling the return of professional golf in the country will be held on Nov. 17 at Riviera’s Couples layout, with Miguel Tabuena, who has kept himself in great shape despite not competing for eight months, looms as one of the players to beat.
“I’ve tried my best to stay in shape and prepare physically and mentally for the resumption of the tour. I hope the work that I have put in pays off,” said the 26-year-old Tabuena, the Philippine Golf Tour’s (PGT) Order of Merit winner in 2015 who has done a lot of campaigning abroad in the past couple of years.
Tabuena, the former PH Open champion, will also play in the second event at the adjacent Langer layout from Dec. 8 as the PGT also holds the first ladies pro event there in a bubble-type environment the organizers will create to assure smooth sailing of all tournaments.
“I hope to play well and I’m praying for a good bubble experience for all of us,” Tabuena said.The Games and Amusements Board and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) have given the organizing PGT Inc. the go signal to resume operations after the PGTI cut short its Q-School in mid-March due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Strict health and safety protocols, counting mandatory reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction swab tests and Standard Q COVID-19 Antigen tests will be administered. Everyone involved in the tournament will stay at The Bayleaf in nearby General Trias, Cavite province.
Other big names like Angelo Que and Antonio Lascuña are also expected to participate as the country’s touring pros will now have the chance to end a long wait for competition.
“It’s been a long eight months of no tournaments. We have all tried our best to stay in shape and make sure we are tournament-ready,” Tabuena said. “I’m looking forward to competing and seeing the other guys. I’m sure everyone wants to get a few games before the end of the year.
“I think all the players, men and ladies, just want to get a few tournaments in before the holidays. It has been a tough year for everyone and this will be a good way to end the year for us golfers,” Tabuena said.
