The 17-year-old agonizingly missed out on the last card for 2012 by a mere $250 at the season-ending Thailand Golf Championship in December but feels the vast experience gained in his rookie year as a professional will help him develop into a top-class player.

“When I found out I missed out on my Tour card I was really pissed. But I know that the experience will make me a tougher and more experienced player in the long run. My goal this year is not to put myself in a similar position again!” said Tabuena.

Tabuena will be on a mission at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s East course from February 9 to 12 in what is the Asian Tour’s second leg of its 2012 season as he disappointingly missed the halfway cut in last year’s Open.

“I was really pressured in the Philippine Open [last season] but now that I have more experience I can put that into play. It is nice to play your national open as one of the first events of the year but hopefully we are in top shape to compete for the title. It is hard to compete at home because people expect you to do well. I want to go out there and try my best,” he said.

Tabuena, who earned his Asian Tour card while still an amateur at the Qualifying School last year, will be among a strong home contingent who will be out to win the Philippine Open, Asia’s oldest national championship.

Other top local stars who will be in the field include former Philippine champions Frankie Miñoza, Angelo Que, Elmer Salvador and Gerald Rosales. Last year’s runner-up Jay Bayron, who recently secured his Asian Tour card from Qualifying School, will be back to avenge his defeat to American Berry Henson, who will return for his title defense.

The Philippine Open has the ICTSI as title sponsor. Other sponsors are HSBC, Panasonic Philippines, Globe Telecom, San Miguel Corp., Cathay Pacific, OMEGA, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, Motorola Solutions, Arrow, Inetol and Srixon.