PH golfer Miguel Tabuena tees off for Olympic glory

MANILA, Philippines – When Adilson da Silva tees off the opening shot at exactly 7:30am in the morning of Thursday, August 11 (Friday in Manila) Campo De Olimpico de Golfe at the Reserva de Marapendi, in suburban Rio, it will mark the return of golf to the Summer Olympics after a 112-year absence. 

Among the 120 golfers seeking Olympic glory is 21-year old Filipino Miguel Tabuena who has soldiered on despite the pullout of compatriots Angelo Que and Dottie Ardina as well as the world’s top golfers due to health and security concerns.

The young Filipino golfer with 9 professional wins to his name is grouped with Japan’s Yuta Ikeda and Finland’s Roope Kakko with their Round One tee time scheduled at 9:47 am and Round Two on Friday, August 12, at 7:52 am.

Of the group, Ikeda is ranked 30th while Tabuena is second at number 38, while Kakko is pegged number 54. 

“I’m excited and ready for this,” proclaimed Tabuena in a short statement earlier this week through his father, Luigi. “I hope to do well and bring glory to the Philippines.”

Some of the golfers to watch out for in the men’s competition includes 40-year old Swedish golfer Henrik Stinson who is the highest ranked golfer in the Official World Golf Rankings, 37-year old American Bubba Watson who is the top-ranked qualifier for Rio, and 36-year old Spaniard Sergio Garcia who has finished in the top five in every major championship on the PGA tour but has yet to win a major.

Watson is grouped with Martin Kaymer, and Anirban Lahiri whose Round One tee time is at 9:14 am. Garcia is bracketed with Patrick Reed, and Emiliano Grillo while Stenson will compete with Thongchai Jaidee, and Rafael Cabrera-Bello. – Rappler.com