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Josh Ball

Tom McKibbin romped to a wire-to-wire victory in the Link Hong Kong Open on Sunday, and ripped up the record books in the process.
The Northern Irishman’s winning total of 27-under-par was the lowest in the tournament’s history, five better than Patrick Reed last year, with Ian Poulter and Jose Maria Olazabal also reaching 22 under when they won in 2010 and 2001, respectively.
And the seven-shot gap between McKibbin and Peter Uihlein, who was second, equalled the largest margin of victory ever over the Hong Kong Golf Club’s composite course, matching Bernhard Langer’s triumph in 1991 and Bill Brask’s in 1984.
“It was obviously amazing,” McKibbin said of his final round 63. “I played some of the best golf I’ve ever played, so to have that sort of golf and shoot those scores around here is pretty special.
“It means a lot [to have the record], with a tournament with so much history behind it and the great players that have won this tournament, having the scoring record is pretty special and something that will definitely live with me forever.”

Uihlein was two shots adrift of McKibbin early on, and any hopes he had of overhauling the leader disappeared in a quadruple bogey eight on the par-4 14th, and the American ended the day on 20 under.
MJ Maguire, meanwhile, began the round just a shot adrift and had kept in touch over the front nine, but could do nothing as McKibbin rattled off four birdies in five holes after the turn.
He finished alongside Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura and South African Louis Oosthuizen a shot further back in third, having bogeyed the last.
McKibbin’s lead was seven shots by the time the trio walked off the 14th green, but the 22-year-old said he was not able to truly relax and enjoy his dominance until he had found the safety of the 16th fairway.
“I think I went six or seven ahead then, and I sort of thought it would be awfully embarrassing to lose it from here,” McKibbin said. “So, sort of from there, trying to play a little bit cautiously coming in, but it’s a weird sort of situation to be in. You don’t want to get ahead of yourself.”
Having set a new course record with a 10-under-par 60 in the first round, Sunday was a fitting display of almost flawless golf to close out a tournament which, for the first time, has awarded the winner a spot in the Masters and Open Championship.
Only two players have won all three. Tom Watson, who was Masters champion twice, claimed the Open Championship five times and triumphed at the Hong Kong Open in 1992, and Rory McIlroy, who got his green jacket this year and the Claret Jug in 2014, and was a runner-up twice in Fanling before finally getting across the line in 2011.
McKibbin and McIlroy are members of the same Holywood Golf Club just outside Belfast, and the former said he had plenty of memories of watching this year’s Masters champion in action at Augusta.
Now, as well playing at Royal Birkdale in what will be his third Open, McKibbin will also make the drive down Magnolia Lane.
“I think I’ve watched them [the Masters] all for the last 15 years,” McKibbin said. “I’ve had the lows of the first one that Rory did to us [2011], and then, obviously, this year. But yeah, I mean sitting there late at night, sort of on Sunday, having to go to school on Monday, watching the years of coverage and the history behind that.
“I’m very excited to go back and play my third Open, it will be very, very cool. And to have that drive down Magnolia Lane for the first time ever, it’ll be even more special.”


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Asian Tour

Tom McKibbin rips up record books as he romps to Link Hong Kong Open victory

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin walks up to the 18th green on the final day of the Link Hong Kong Open. Photo: Eugene Lee

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin with the Link Hong Kong Open trophy. Photo: Eugene Lee

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Wu Ashun focuses on a putt during round two at Hong Kong Golf Club on Friday. Photo: Asian Tour

Tom McKibbin in action during round two of the Link Hong Kong Open on Friday. Photo: Asian Tour

Asian Tour: McKibbin leads low-scoring charge with record round at Link Hong Kong Open

Tom McKibbin produced a record-setting performance in the first round of the Link Hong Kong Open. Photo: Asian Tour

Patrick Reed finished the day at five under. Photo: Elson Li

Jeffrey Shen was the best of Hong Kong’s golfers on day one. Photo: Asian Tour

Sport

Golf

Northern Irishman sets new mark for lowest total and matches biggest winning margin in wire-to-wire triumph


Northern Irishman sets new mark for lowest total and matches biggest winning margin in wire-to-wire triumph.


Hong Kong Open

Patrick Reed

Rory McIlroy

Tom McKibbin rips up record books as he romps to Link Hong Kong Open victory

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Northern Irishman sets new mark for lowest total and matches biggest winning margin in wire-to-wire triumph

Northern Irishman sets new mark for lowest total and matches biggest winning margin in wire-to-wire triumph