Tom McKibbin sets new course record at Hong Kong Open
Tom McKibbin produced a spectacular opening round of 60 at the Hong Kong Open, establishing a new course record at Fanling, reports BritPanorama.
The 22-year-old Northern Irishman surpassed Aaron Rai’s previous benchmark of 61, set during his victorious campaign in 2018. McKibbin’s exceptional performance has positioned him strongly to contend for one of the tournament’s most coveted prizes.
A victory would secure exemptions to both the Masters at Augusta and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale next year. These Major championship berths are reserved for the highest-finishing competitor not already qualified.
McKibbin has never competed at the Masters, making this opportunity particularly significant for the young golfer, who currently sits 109th in the world rankings. His remarkable round follows his decision to join Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team earlier this year, where he reportedly secured £3.4 million, despite counsel from Rory McIlroy to remain on traditional tours.
The financial rewards from LIV Golf have been substantial, with McKibbin accumulating approximately £4.4 million during his inaugural campaign. Although he maintained his DP World Tour membership, his ranking has declined from inside the top 100 to his current position, leaving him without automatic Major qualification for 2025.
“For these events to have those spots up for grabs, they definitely motivate you to go out and play well, knowing what’s sort of on the table come the end of the week,” he told bunkered.co.uk. He further revealed that his aggressive approach contributed to his record-breaking score: “I came in with the mindset to aim at every flag and hope for the best. Obviously that worked today.”
The Hong Kong tournament has attracted 33 LIV Golf competitors, including 29 who participated throughout the entire season. Patrick Reed and Charl Schwartzel are the only players already qualified for Augusta through previous victories. Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, faced a challenging start and posted an opening 69 without his golf clubs, which had not arrived with him. “A little under-prepped and underplayed coming into this one,” he admitted.
Additional Major qualifying opportunities await LIV professionals at December’s Australian Open and February’s South African Open, both offering Masters invitations. In this competitive landscape, McKibbin’s performance underscores the stakes involved in modern golf, where every swing can redefine a career and aspirations hang in the balance.
