Santa rosa: Miguel Tabuena will showcase his world-class skills in this year's PHP6-million The Country Club (TCC) Invitational in Santa Rosa City, Laguna starting Jan. 27. Despite falling short of a spot in the lucrative LIV Golf League, Tabuena's strong finish to the 2025 LIV Golf Promotions proved his maturity to compete at the highest level.
According to Philippines News Agency, competing in the 72-hole TCC are past champions and the top 30 finishers from the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) Order of Merit. Serving as the traditional kick-off of every PGT season, the three-leg TCC Invitational is the richest event in local golf, with every stop guaranteed at least PHP2 million in total prizes.
Tabuena, the 2017 champion, is coming off a stellar campaign on the Asian Tour International Series, where he finished third in the Order of Merit. He nearly pulled off back-to-back victories in 2018, but was denied by Korean-American Micah Shin, who edged him by a single stroke to become the first non-Filipino champion of the PGT flagship tournament.
Dutchman Guido van der Valk claimed consecutive titles in 2020 and in 2023 post-pandemic. Veteran Tony Lascu±a added his second TCC crown in 2024, while Korean Gwon Minwook spoiled van der Valk's three-peat bid with a sudden-death victory in 2025.
Also eyeing a first TCC Invitational win are local aces led by 2025 Match Play Championship winner at TCC Keanu Jahns, Fidel Concepcion, Rupert Zaragosa, Reymon Jaraula, and Clyde Mondilla.
Three-time champion Angelo Que, buoyed by his first-ever PGT Order of Merit title, is also in the title hunt along with Lascu±a, Shin, and longtime tour stalwarts Jhonnel Ababa, Mike Bibat, Zanieboy Gialon, Dino Villanueva, Nilo Salahog, and James Ryan Lam.
