Tabuena goes ‘major’, tees off in US Open

MANILA, Philippines - When he makes his first shot half hour after high noon in the US Open in one of the world’s toughest courses, Miguel Tabuena shall have fulfilled a childhood dream to one day play in the Major and make the country proud.

“I’m ready already game-wise,” said Tabuena, who tees off with Englishman Lee Slattery and Daniel Summerhays of the US on No. 10 at 12:30 p.m. Thursday (Friday in Manila).

The No. 1 Filipino pro at the moment had made it to the iconic Oakmont Country Club layout with an impressive credential as the topnotcher of the Sectional Qualifiers in California last week. (Related story A-25)

Bu it won’t be easy. Ranged against the world’s best and brightest, the 21-year-old Tabuena will also have to contend with one of the toughest courses in the first two rounds.

He hopes to make the cut over the venue that produced a winning score of five over par the last time the US Open was held here in 2007 won by Angel Cabrera. But failing to do so won’t diminish the impact of the feat as one of the youngest to earn a spot in golf’s second major.

And Tabuena remains confident he could move on to the weekend play.

“I can hit shots I wanted. I just have to be a bit more committed and trust myself a bit more. Being nervous will always be normal but you have to learn to play with it,” said Tabuena in an earlier interview with The STAR.

Currently at world No. 128, Tabuena is eyeing to break into the Top 120 to gain a possible crack at the PGA Tour and his US Open stint could put him in good stead as he seeks to go straight to the final stage of the PGA Q-School.

“I see myself doing it if I could keep the momentum and don’t tire out,” he said.

With a current standing of 38 in the Olympic ranking, Tabuena is also a cinch to play in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August where he is also expected to slug it out with majority of the US Open field.

He had actually played with former top player Jordan Spieth in the Singapore Open early this year where he finished just two rungs behind the current world No. 2.

Tabuena actually had a couple of PGA starts as invitee but the reigning Philippine Open champion missed the cut both at the Sony Open in 2012 and earlier this year.

“I think I’m still a long way to go in terms of decision-making in crucial parts of my game and these will be better through time and experience,” he said.

In the featured opening day threesome, Fil-Aussie world No. 1 Jason Day is paired with fellow Major winners Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and Adam Scott of Australia at 2:20 p.m. while Spieth is paired with fellow Americans Zach Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau on No. 10 at 8:35 a.m.

World No. 3 Rory McIlroy kicks off his bid at 8:24 a.m. on No. 1 with this year’s Masters champion Danny Willett of England and American Rickie Fowler.