McKibbin

Hong Kong Open – third round

-20 T McKibbin (NI); -19 MJ Maguire (US); -18 P Uihlein (US); -17 K Aphibarnrat (Tha), S Hend (Aus); -16 C Howell (US), L Oosthuizen (SA).

Selected others: -9 S Horsfield (Eng), P Reed (US); -8 T Gooch (US); -5 P Casey (Eng).

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Tom McKibbin strengthened his bid to qualify for next year’s Masters and Open Championship with a third-round 65 as he continued to lead the Hong Kong Open.

After opening the tournament with a course record of 60 and carding a second-round 65, McKibbin registered one bogey and two birdies in the opening four holes of day three in Fanling.

The 22-year-old would add another birdie on the 12th before consecutive birdies on hole 16 and 17 took his total to 65 on the penultimate day.

The winner of the event will qualify for the 2026 Masters, while the highest-placed non-exempt player who makes the cut will earn a place at the 154th Open.

The Northern Ireland native is attempting to qualify for next year’s Masters for the first time, and the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July.

McKibbin’s lead over M.J. Maguire was reduced to one after 54 holes, with Peter Uihlein two shots behind and Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Scott Hend three off the pace.

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin says he has “no regrets” over joining LIV Golf.

McKibbin made the switch to Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII LIV team despite securing his PGA Tour card in November.

Alongside Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Caleb Surratt, the 22-year-old helped Legion XII win the teams’ title and had a best individual finish of joint-fourth place.

“I’m very glad, I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I’ve learnt a lot and I feel like my game has improved a lot,” McKibbin told BBC Sport NI ahead of the Irish Open at the K Club.

“I’ve no regrets. I love being there, and being able to come and play some events over here is really good as well.”

After signing up to the lucrative LIV Golf, McKibbin says he is “fortunate” to be a multi-millionaire at only 22 years of age.

However, while he says the financial aspect of the Saudi-backed golf league is a plus, his motivation when he steps out on the tee is to try and win.

“With how golf is now, there is a lot of money around it. To be part of it and be able to benefit from it is good, but I want to let my golf do the talking and that’s more important,” he said.

“I want to win more. It is life-changing and to be fortunate enough to have that is nice, but hopefully I can get a few more wins.”

McKibbin is eligible to play at the Irish Open as the conflict between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf has yet to be resolved.

That meant he has been able to retain his DP World Tour membership while playing under the LIV banner.

The Holywood golfer says he hopes there is a resolution so he can continue to play at the Irish Open and other tournaments in the coming years.

“I think everyone just wants it to work out and play together,” said McKibbin.

“We’re all hopeful it can happen, so hopefully this isn’t my last one [Irish Open] for a while.

“I’ve still got membership and status here, and I’d love to play whenever I can. It’s good to come back to events like this.

“There’s some big tournaments and national Opens to play. I want to try and win those, so there’s definitely something important for me still here.”