They’re Young, Fearless, and Filipino — And They’re Taking Over Golf

Golf remains a strong part of Philippine sports. The Philippine Open is one of the oldest tournaments in Asia, and the country continues to produce talent capable of competing on the world stage. Here are four Filipino golfers leading the next wave. 

Miguel Tabuena 

At 31, Miguel Tabuena can be considered the elder statesman of Philippine golf’s new generation. As an amateur, he posted strong results in tournaments in Malaysia and Singapore. His silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games brought him wider recognition and marked him as one of the country’s top prospects. 

Tabuena turned professional in 2011 and secured his first pro victory at the 2015 Philippine Open, the first of 21 career wins. In 2026, he made history as the first Filipino named to the roster of the LIV Golf League, positioning him for another competitive season on the global stage. 

Pauline del Rosario 

Pauline del Rosario, 28, began playing golf at six and built a strong amateur foundation. At 16, she won the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open, signaling her potential early on. 

She turned professional in 2016 and claimed her first pro title at the 2017 TLPGA and Royal Open, becoming the first Filipina to win the tournament. Del Rosario went on to compete in the United States, including two seasons on the Epson Tour. In 2021, she captured the WLN Central Arkansas Open. She continues to compete in LPGA events as she further develops her game. 

Bianca Pagdanganan 

Bianca Pagdanganan, 28, also started young and built an impressive amateur resume, including victories at the 2013 Philippine Ladies Open amateur division and the 2014 Philippine Junior Amateur Open. 

She played collegiate golf in the US, first with Gonzaga University and later with the University of Arizona, where she helped the Wildcats win the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Championship. 

Pagdanganan represented the Philippines at the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, winning medals in both individual and team events. She turned professional in 2020. Her career highlight so far is a joint fourth-place finish at the 2024 Summer Olympics, the highest finish ever by a Filipino golfer. 

Rianne Malixi 

At 19, Rianne Malixi is the youngest on this list and remains an amateur. In 2024, she won both the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in the same year, becoming only the second player to achieve that feat. 

She also won the 2024 Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs, the 2021 Se Ri Pak Desert Junior, the 2020 Philippine National Stroke Play Championship, and the 2019 Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship. Now a freshman at Duke University in North Carolina, Malixi continues to develop within one of the top collegiate golf programs in the United States.