MIGUEL Tabuena has made history after being confirmed as the first player from the Philippines to earn full-time status on the LIV Golf League roster for the 2026 season, following an impressive rise through The International Series.
The 31-year-old will compete throughout the season as a wild card, beginning this week at LIV Golf Adelaide at The Grange Golf Club from 12–15 February. His journey reached a turning point with a breakthrough victory at the International Series Philippines presented by BingoPlus last October.
After making a successful debut as a substitute for 4Aces GC in Riyadh last week, his pathway from The International Series to the LIV Golf League is now complete as he officially joins the league full-time.
READ Tabuena pockets P2.9M after capping LIV Golf debut with 69
"It was completely random. LIV’s Player Relations team called me early in the morning, around 7 a.m., and I was actually still asleep. They told me they’d been trying to reach me all morning," said the country's highest-ranked golfer.
"Then they told me that because I was the highest finisher in The International Series Rankings last year outside of the automatic exemptions, they wanted to offer me the Wild Card spot for the entire season after Anthony Kim has moved to 4Aces GC.
“This is really huge for me, my goal last year was to win an International Series event, and I did it. That win opened up so many opportunities, including playing bigger events like the Saudi International, and it also gave me a real chance to push for promotion.
"I honestly couldn’t believe it."
The four-time Asian Tour winner will join a growing crop of International Series and top performers from the Asian Tour who have earned full-time LIV Golf cards for 2026, including Scott Vincent, Yosuke Asaji, Richard T. Lee and Björn Hellgren.
Tabuena’s announcement comes alongside further major news for 4Aces GC, with former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim confirmed as a full-time team member for the 2026 season under captain Dustin Johnson.
Kim made five International Series starts in 2025 as he pushed for a return to the League, before sealing it with one of three Wild Card spots at LIV Golf Promotions in January.
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