Tabuena sees himself as favorite
CANLUBANG, LAGUNA — Miguel Tabuena declared yesterday that being one of the longest hitters in the field would give him an advantage when the TCC Invitational gets underway today at The Country Club in Laguna.
The course was closed for two years to undergo renovation and one the biggest changes was its length, it is now 7,760 yards, probably the longest in the country.
“I think I have an upper hand here since it’s a long course and I’m one of the longest hitters in the Philippine Golf Tour,” said the 22-year-old Tabuena yesterday after competing in the pro-am event.
“I think I have a little bit of an advantage (being a long hitter),” added Tabuena following his five-under-par 67 effort that had him fire five birdies against a bogey.
The P5-million TCC Championship will also serve as the opening event of the Philippine Golf Tour, which has 17 legs including the Solaire Philippine Open next month.
Tony Lascuna, the PGT’s Order of Merit winner last year, said that playing the renovated course would definitely favor the long hitters with Tabuena joining the likes of Angelo Que, Juvic Pagunsad, Orlan Sumcad and Clyde Mondilla as the TCC favorites.
“This week, advantage ang malalakas pumalo,” said Lascuna “Ako hundi gaano malakas pumalo, pero try my best pa din. Pero binilang ko sina Tabuena, Sumcad, Que, Pagunsan and Mondilla, yun ang mabigat.”
“Kung short course lang, pwede ako. Itong course na to, masyadong mahaba,” Lascuna added as he finished a one-under par 71 in a round that had him collect five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
“Manalo siguro dito, kung may hangin maski 4-over manalo ka dito. Kung wala, even-par pwede kasi sobrang habang course,” said Lascuna, adding that his focused more on competing in the Asian Tour with 18 events scheduled for 2017 and just 10 on the PGT.
The last time the TCC was played in 2014, Lascuna finished second behind Cassius Casas.
For the Rio Olympic veteran Tabuena, he is still aiming for his first TCC title.
“I played well actually today,” said Tabuena. “Considering it’s my fourth week in a row, so medyo pagod. I was supposed to be in Dubai, but I chose to play (here), it’s my sponsor tournament.”
“It’s nice to be back home, of course. I only played four events last year (in the PGT)… supposed to be five but I still finished in the Top 5. They gave me an invite here,” added Tabuena, who is fresh from his third place finish at the Myanmar Open, an Asian Tour event.