December 31, 2025 | 5:17pm
MANILA, Philippines — The road to Miguel Tabuena’s LIV Golf dream has widened—but it has also become far more demanding.
LIV Golf Promotions announced Wednesday that the top three finishers, instead of just two, will now earn full-season Wild Card spots in the 2026 LIV Golf League, a significant boost for Tabuena and dozens of elite players chasing entry into golf’s most disruptive global circuit.
For Tabuena, the timing could not be more fitting.
The 31-year-old two-time Philippine Open champion narrowly missed direct qualification via the 2025 International Seris, finishing third overall—just outside the top two spots claimed by Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Japan’s Yosuke Asaji. That near miss stung, but it also sharpened his resolve.
“I’m coming into Promotions with a really strong mindset,” Tabuena said recently. “Missing out hurt, but it also pushed me to get better and stronger.”
LIV Golf confirmed that beginning February, its regular season field will expand to 57 players, composed of 13-four man teams and five Wild Card players competing throughout the league’s globe-spanning schedule.
The expanded structure strengthens the pathway from the Asian Tour and LIV Golf Promotions into the league, with three berths now available via LIV Golf Promotions and two slots via The International Series. The top 10 finishers, including ties, at Promotions, will also earn full exemption into the 2026 International Series of the Asian Tour.
The Promotions tournament itself—scheduled January 8-11 at the Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida—is a ruthless test. Four rounds of 18-hole stroke play are broken into multiple elimination stages with scores reset after each cut. Only three players will emerge from an initial field of 83 competitors from 24 countries.
If the door has opened wider, the competition behind it is deeper than ever.
This year’s Promotions field boasts of former Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players, winners on the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour of Australasia. Also in the fold are former top 50 world-ranked professionals, and an average age of 30, blending experience with hunger.
More than half of the field (47 players) have won tournaments in the last two years, including 32 different winners in 2025 alone.
Among the notable contenders are England’s Chris Wood, the 2016 Ryder Cup player and three-time European Tour winner; Frenchman Alex Levy, a five-time DP World Tour champion; and Pable Ereño of Spain, a former top-ranked amateur and Palmer Cup standout.
Simply put, there will be no soft rounds, no safe stretches—and no room for impatience.
For Tabuena to clinch one of the three coveted LIV Golf berths, the formula is as much mental as it is technical.
With scores wiped clean after each phase, momentum can vanish instantly. Tabuena must stay composed, avoid pressing and treat each round as a standalone battle.
Black Diamond Ranch rewards precision off the tee and disciplined iron play. Tabuena’s strength lies in his consistency—an edge he must lean on when others chase hero shots.
Promotions has derailed many proven players. Trusting his process, especially after his near-miss in the International Series, will be critical.
The final two-day, 36-hole shootout is where LIV dreams are either realized or crushed. To finish top three, Tabuena must be aggressive—but selective—on Sunday.
The rewards are immense—a full season on the LIV Golf League, guaranteed starts across 13 global events, and a chance to compete weekly against the world’s best as an independent Wild Card. The top three finishers will also earn US$200,000, $150,000 and $100,000, respectively.
More importantly, success would mark a defining leap in Tabuena’s career— from consistent Asian Tour contender to a fixture on one of golf’s biggest stages.
As LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil put it: “We are opening pathways—creating more chances for top talent to compete in the world’s golf league. Adding another qualifying spot strengthens our field and adds excitement to a season built on opportunity, competition, and growth.”
For Tabuena, opportunity is no longer the question.
Now comes the hardest part—earning it.