Tom McKibbin savored a dream Asian Tour debut when he won the US$2 million (HK$15.6 million) Link Hong Kong Open in record fashion after leading from start to finish at Fanling.
The Northern Irishman fired a final-round seven-under-par 63 at the Hong Kong Golf Club to finish on 27-under 253 – a whopping seven shots clear of his nearest challenger, American Peter Uihlein.
McKibbin, 22, broke the prestigious tournament’s 72-hole low scoring total and match his biggest margin of victory, while it also earned him a place in the British Open and the US Masters at Augusta National next year.
"Yeah, it was obviously amazing,” McKibbin said after his second victory as a professional.
"I played some of the best golf I have probably ever played. So, yeah, to have that sort of golf and to shoot those scores around here is pretty special.”
From the moment he shot a record 60 in the first round, McKibbin never relinquished the lead.
The previous lowest 72-hole total for the tournament was 22-under – held by Jose Maria Olazabal (2002), Ian Poulter (2010) and Patrick Reed (2024) – while both Bernhard Langer and Bill Brask won by seven shots in 1991 and 1984, respectively.
"It means a lot. I mean, with a tournament with so much history behind it, and great players that have won this tournament, to have the scoring record is pretty special, and something that will definitely live with me forever,” McKibbin said.
The LIV Golf star had a one-shot lead over American MJ Maguire at the start of the day.
After holding off the chasing pack on the front nine by going out in three under, McKibbin pulled away on the back nine with birdies on 10, 11, 13, 14, and 16.
Uihlein closed with a 68 to finish seven shots behind, while Japanese Tomoyo Ikemura (65), South African Louis Oosthuizen (67) and Maguire (70) tied for third, a shot further back.
