Tom McKibbin claimed victory on the Hong Kong Open on Sunday qualify for the Masters for the primary time and safe his place for The Open.
Main from spherical one, the 22-year-old Holywood golfer was constant all through as he triumphed within the prestigious Asian Tour occasion at Fanling.
McKibbin, who performs on the LIV Golf Tour and had a previous received on the European Tour in 2023, started his problem in excellent style by taking pictures an official course document 60 on Thursday which set the tone for his week
Belfast-born McKibbin, who received as soon as on the European Tour in 2023 and now performs on the LIV Golf tour, shot an official course-record 60 on the opening day Thursday to ignite his title cost.
He maintained his lead going into Sunday’s closing spherical by one shot on MJ Maguire, taking pictures a final-round 63 to complete on 27 underneath par in heat and overcast circumstances, which included eight birdies with 5 on the again 9.
“I dreamt of doing this since I used to be a younger child, and so they come true for those who prepare exhausting sufficient,” he mentioned.
McKibbin is a club-mate of five-time main winner Rory McIlroy, the present Masters champion.
Peter Uihlein was second at 20 underneath and his fellow American Maguire was tied for third, one other shot again.
The Hong Kong Open is without doubt one of the elevated Worldwide Sequence occasions on the Asian Tour in 2025, and is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf.
It’s also considered one of a choose variety of nationwide opens around the globe that have been granted standing as qualifiers for subsequent yr’s Masters at Augusta and The Open at Royal Birkdale.
