Tom McKibbin made a dream debut on the Asian Tour, winning the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club with a record-breaking performance. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman fired a superb final-round 63 to seal a wire-to-wire victory on 27-under 253 – setting a new tournament low and matching its largest winning margin of seven shots.
American Peter Uihlein was runner-up after a 68, while Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and American MJ Maguire shared third, another shot back. The win also earned McKibbin a spot in next year’s Masters and The Open, marking his debut at Augusta and third appearance in golf’s oldest Major.
Playing for Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team in LIV Golf, McKibbin carded birdies on holes 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 16, with only a late bogey marring an otherwise flawless round. “It means a lot,” he said. “To win such a historic tournament and set a scoring record is pretty special — something I’ll remember forever.”
Uihlein, despite a quadruple bogey on the 14th, managed second place and praised McKibbin’s composure. “He played unbelievably well — seven-under on Sunday is incredible,” he said.
The Asian Tour now heads to the Moutai Singapore Open next week.
